Diabetic neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy can be a debilitating condition. You may feel helpless or worried about serious complications that could arise from having diabetic neuropathy. Advocate Health Care’s team of expert neurologists are here to help you manage diabetic neuropathy and help you improve your quality of life.

Diabetic neuropathy arises from prolonged mismanagement of blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Elevated glucose levels inflict harm on the peripheral nerves throughout the body, especially nerves in your feet and legs.

The severity of diabetic neuropathy depends on the nerves involved and can cause symptoms such as pain, tingling, numbness and weakness in the feet, legs and hands. Furthermore, it can also cause adverse effects on cardiac function, circulation, kidney health and digestion.

What is diabetic neuropathy?

Risk factors for diabetic neuropathy

The risk of getting neuropathy greatly increases if you have diabetes. More than 50% of people with diabetes will develop neuropathy.

You’re more likely to have diabetic neuropathy if you have any of the following risk factors:

• Being overweight
• Family history of diabetes
• Kidney disease
• Poor blood sugar control
• Smoking or excessive alcohol use

If you have any of the above risk factors or have been diagnosed with diabetes, regular checkups with your doctor can help reduce your risk of developing diabetic neuropathy.

Symptoms of diabetic neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy symptoms vary depending on the specific nerve affected and the underlying cause of the condition. In most cases, diabetic neuropathy symptoms mirror those of other types of neuropathies, but are commonly felt in your feet and legs.

Some common symptoms of diabetic neuropathy include:

• Pain: Pain is a hallmark symptom of diabetic neuropathy.
• Temperature sensitivity: You may experience changes in sensitivity to temperature in your feet and legs, such as feeling excessively cold or hot.
• Sensory changes: For example, diabetic neuropathy can lead to loss of feeling or sensation in the hands, fingers, feet and legs.
• Numbness or tingling: If you have diabetic neuropathy, you may experience numbness or tingling in your hands, feet and legs.
• Sensitivity to touch: You may experience increased sensitivity to touch in the affected area.
• Weakness: Weakness in the muscles controlled by the damaged nerve is a common symptom. This weakness may impact your ability to stand on your feet or walk.

Diabetic neuropathy symptoms develop gradually and progress over time if the underlying cause is not addressed.

Diagnosis of diabetic neuropathy

Your doctor will ask about your diabetic neuropathy symptoms and anything that triggers or relieves them. They may also ask you about any alcohol or tobacco use, history of infections, diabetes and family history of neurological diseases.

Blood tests may be ordered to detect diabetes; vitamin deficiencies; dysfunction of the liver, thyroid or kidneys; infections or signs of abnormal immune system activity.

Your provider may also recommend nerve function and imaging tests such as a CT scan or MRI to identify any nerve damage.

Nerve function tests are also a valuable tool in diagnosing diabetic neuropathy. These tests include:

• Electromyography (EMG) test: For this test, tiny needles connected to electrodes are inserted into specific muscles to record their electrical activity at rest and during contraction. Test results show any abnormal muscular electrical and can help differentiate between muscle and nerve disorders.
• Nerve conduction velocity (NCV) test: This test measures signal strength and speed along specific large motor and sensory nerves and reveals the location of nerve damage.

Complications of diabetic neuropathy

If left untreated, diabetic neuropathy can cause serious complications that could lead to amputation of a toe, foot or leg.

Other complications of diabetic neuropathy include:

• Being unaware of low blood sugar levels
• Digestive problems
• Incontinence
• Increased or decreased sweating
• Recurring urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Sexual dysfunction
• Sudden drops in blood pressure

You can prevent complications of diabetic neuropathy by managing your blood sugar levels and taking care of your feet.

Diabetic neuropathy treatments

Although diabetic neuropathy is uncurable, your provider will propose treatments aimed at slowing its progression, alleviating pain, managing blood sugar levels and addressing complications.

The initial focus of treatment involves managing blood glucose levels to slow down the advancement of diabetic neuropathy. Effective control of blood sugar levels may also alleviate symptoms.

Subsequently, efforts will be directed towards alleviating the pain associated with diabetic neuropathy, often with prescription medications.

Medications prescribed for diabetic neuropathy include anti-seizure drugs and antidepressants. Occasionally, a combination of antidepressants and anti-seizure medications are prescribed, along with over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

In certain instances, orthopedic shoes may be recommended by your physician to improve walking difficulties and minimize the risk of foot injuries.

Moreover, engaging in physical therapy can be beneficial for acquiring techniques in muscle stretching and strengthening, which can provide some pain relief.

Living with diabetic neuropathy

Adjusting to life with diabetic neuropathy requires adapting to the hurdles presented by nerve damage to uphold a satisfactory quality of life. The strategies used by your doctor may differ based on the nerve affected and the root cause of diabetic neuropathy.

Talk with your provider to formulate a comprehensive diabetic neuropathy treatment strategy. Consistent check-ups and communication with your care team play a crucial role in improving your quality of life while managing diabetic neuropathy.