What Are Diabetes Neuropathies?

What Are Diabetes Neuropathies?

Diabetes can cause nerve disorders called Diabetes neuropathies.  Nerve damage can occur within the body over throughout the years.  Sometimes nerve damage produces symptoms but sometimes people not notice the tingling, numbness or the temporary lack of feeling in their extremities.  60 to 70 percent of people that have Diabetes nerve damage from Diabetes.

A vast majority of people that have Diabetes develop diabetic neuropathies of some sort.  The possibility of Diabetic neuropathies increased the longer a person has Diabetes and the older they get.  Up to 70 percent of people who have Diabetes experience neuropathy at some point in their lives.  Those that do not exercise, are overweight and have difficulties controlling glucose levels are most susceptible to neuropathies.

Diabetic neuropathies are thought to be caused by a number of different things.  Some of the main suspects are inherited traits, lifestyles that are inactive, abuse alcohol or smoke cigarettes.  Some autoimmune factors may also contribute to nerve damage.  More research must be done to pinpoint which factors play more of a role in Diabetic Neuropathy.

There are three different types of Diabetic neuropathies.  The most prevalent form is peripheral neuropathy.  People that experience this type of Diabetic neuropathy have loss of feeling in their extremities and generally have a lot of pain.

The symptoms of autonomic neuropathy are quite different.  If you develop this form of Diabetic neuropathy you will see changes in sexual response, your bladder and bowel functions.  Hypoglycemia can also occur.  Autonomic neuropathy causes nerve damage on nerves that control blood pressure, blood glucose levels and the heart.  Internal organs can also be affected and patients can slip into hypoglycemia without knowing it.  The major drop in blood sugar can cause a deadly coma.  Make sure that others are aware of the symptoms of hypoglycemia (shaking, sweating, confusion and palpitations) so that they can recognize the symptoms when you can’t.

Proximal neuropathy produces pain in the legs, hips and buttocks.  General weakness of the legs is one of the main symptoms of this form of Diabetic neuropathy.  It typically starts on one side of the body, producing pain in the hips and legs causing them to become weak from nerve damage.  This form of Diabetic neuropathy is most common in Type 2 Diabetes.

Focal neuropathy can strike any nerve group or individual nerve in the body.  Muscle aches and weakness is a major sign of this type of Diabetic neuropathy.  Nerve groups are preyed on and it is very unpredictable.  The nerves in the head and torso are usually the ones that are affected.  Bell’s palsy, vision problems and pain in the pelvis, stomach, thighs and chest is common.        .

Feet, arms and legs are affected, with the feet being the first part of the body that produces symptoms.  That is why Diabetics must be extremely careful with any foot injuries they may experience.  A simple cut or blister can become infected and spread.  Amputation can be the end result of a foot infection that patients allow to spread.