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Diabetic neuropathy is a nerve disorder caused by diabetes. Although the mechanism of how it happens has not been explained by research, a person who has high levels of blood glucose for many years is at risk for diabetic neuropathy. According to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, the majority of people with diabetes have neuropathy to some degree, with the highest rates among those who've have diabetes for 25 years or longer. People who have difficulty keeping their blood sugar under control are also more at risk for neuropathies.
Symptoms
The symptoms of diabetic neuropathy are often slight at first. In fact, some mild cases may go unnoticed for a long time. For example, you might experience mild numbness, pain or tingling in the feet, and then after several years you develop weakness in the muscles of the feet. Occasionally, diabetic neuropathy can flare up suddenly and affect specific nerves so that an affected individual will develop double vision or drooping eyelids, or weakness and atrophy of the thigh muscles. Nerve damage caused by diabetes may also lead to problems with the digestive tract and sexual organs, which can cause indigestion, diarrhea or constipation, dizziness, bladder infections and impotence. The loss of sensation may increase the possibility that injuries go unnoticed, and these can develop into ulcers or lesions that become infected.
Treatment
The goal of treating diabetic neuropathy is to relieve discomfort and prevent further damage. The first step is to bring blood sugar levels under control by diet and medication. Another important part of treatment involves treating the areas affected -- for example, if neuropathy affects the feet, patients are taught special measures to prevent injury to the feet. Analgesics, low doses of antidepressants and some anticonvulsant medications may be prescribed for relief of pain, burning or tingling. Some patients may find that walking regularly, taking warm baths or using elastic stockings may help relieve leg pain.
Prognosis
The prognosis for diabetic neuropathy depends largely on how well your diabetes. Treating diabetes may halt progression and even gradually ease the symptoms of the neuropathy, but there is no way to reverse the nerve damage. The pain of diabetic neuropathy may become severe enough to cause depression in some patients.
