The body normally produces enough insulin to move glucose from the bloodstream into the cells. With diabetes, however, the body is unable to supply enough insulin to facilitate this process, depriving the body of its main source of fuel. But the abnormally high levels of glucose in the blood can also lead to nerve damage and result in what's known as diabetic neuropathy, which can cause muscle atrophy, especially in the legs.
Diabetic Neuropathy
Elevated blood sugar levels can injure the nerve fibers throughout the body, but with diabetic neuropathy, it specifically affects your feet and legs, explains the Mayo Clinic. This often leads to numbness, tingling and pain. Some people also develop what's known as proximal neuropathy. This complication of diabetes is associated with muscle weakness in the legs, which can lead to mobility issues and difficulty walking.
Muscle Atrophy
A study conducted by the Department of Neurology at Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark found that patients with neuropathy experienced a 41 percent reduction in muscle strength of the ankle dorsal and plantar flexors. These muscles are located along the back of the ankle and in the posterior and lateral compartments of the lower leg, respectively. The loss of muscle strength led to a 32 percent reduction in muscle volume to these areas of the leg. Patients also suffered 43 percent atrophy in the mid-lower leg and 65 percent distally, those muscles furthest from the center of the body, or muscles closest to the ankle in this situation.
Blood Sugar
Control your blood sugar levels to manage the progression of neuropathy, advises the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health. Slowing the progression of diabetes also can slow the progression of atrophy. Aim for a blood sugar level of roughly 70 to 130 mg of glucose per deciliter of blood, or mg/dL, before meals and less than 180 mg/dL two hours after eating, advises the Mayo Clinic. This can reduce the risk of neuropathy by nearly 60 percent, and avoid further atrophy.
Exercise
While treatment for neuropathy often entails blood glucose management, you may also benefit from regular exercise, according to the University of Chicago Center of Peripheral Neuropathy. Your doctor can determine what type of exercise is best for you. Exercises may include low-impact, non-weight-bearing activities such as biking or swimming, especially when atrophy is severe. Physical activity not only reduces neuropathy, but it can also help build strength in your leg muscles.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Diabetes
- MayoClinic.com: Diabetic Neuropathy
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Diabetic Neuropathies -- The Nerve Damage of Diabetes
- University of Chicago Center of Peripheral Neuropathy: Types of Peripheral Neuropathy -- Pre-diabetic/Diabetic
- National Center for Biotechnology Information: Muscular Atrophy in Diabetic Neuropathy -- A Stereological Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.
