Diabetic Neuropathy: Symptoms and Causes

Diabetic neuropathy is a serious diabetic neuropathy, affecting up to 50% of diabetics. High blood sugar damages nerves throughout the body, especially the lower extremities. Diabetic nerve symptoms will depend on the nerve that is damaged.

Diabetic neuropathy is divided into 4 main categories. A person can have one or more types at the same time. Symptoms will depend on the type of disease and the nerves affected. Usually, diabetic neuropathy symptoms develop gradually. Patients will not notice abnormalities until the nerve is severely damaged.
1.1. Peripheral neuropathy This is the most common type of diabetic neuropathy. The disease affects the feet and legs first, followed by the hands and arms. Symptoms of peripheral diabetic neuropathy are often worse at night, including:
Numbness, less sensation of pain or heat/cold temperature; Tingling or burning sensation; sharp pain or cramps; Increased crash sensitivity. For example, covering with a blanket can also cause pain; Legs have serious problems, like ulcers, infections, and joint pain.

1.2. Autonomic neuropathy The autonomic nervous system controls your heart, bladder, stomach, intestines, sex organs, and eyes. Diabetes can affect this nerve, leading to:
Low blood sugar without realizing it; Bladder or bowel problems; Reduces the rate of gastric emptying, causing nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite; Blurry, darker vision; Reduced sensation with sexual arousal. 1.3. Polyneuritis Also known as diabetic atrophy, the disease usually affects the nerves in the thighs, hips, buttocks, or legs, as well as the abdomen and chest area. Symptoms of diabetic neuropathy usually appear on one side of the body, but can also spread to the other side, including:
Severe pain in the hips, thighs or buttocks; Weak and contracted muscles; Difficulty getting up after sitting; Stomach pain.

1.4. Focal/mononuclear neuropathy There are two types of mononeuropathy, cranial and peripheral. Monopathy means that only a specific nerve is damaged, resulting in:
Difficulty concentrating or double vision ; Soreness behind one eye;

Paralysis of one side of the face; Numbness or tingling in the hand or fingers, except for the little finger; Weak upper limbs, making it easy to drop things when holding. Some people have mild symptoms of diabetic neuropathy, while others are quite painful and even disabling. People with diabetes need to see a doctor if they have:
An open wound that does not heal or is painful, has an infection in the foot; Burning, tingling, weakness or pain in the extremities, which interferes with daily activities or interferes with sleep; Changes in digestive, urinary or sexual function; Dizziness and fainting. The American Diabetes Association recommends screening for diabetic neuropathy soon after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and 5 years after being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. If the disease is not detected, repeat screening every year.

The exact cause of each type of diabetic neuropathy is unknown. However, researchers believe that over time, uncontrolled high blood sugar damages nerves and interferes with their ability to send signals, leading to the neurological complications of diabetes. High blood sugar also weakens capillary walls, affecting the nerves' ability to deliver oxygen and nutrients.
All diabetics are at risk of developing diabetic neuropathy. However, a few risk factors make the nerves more susceptible to damage:
Poor blood glucose control: Poorly controlled blood sugar increases the risk of diabetes complications, including: have nerve damage; History of diabetes: The risk of diabetic neuropathy increases over time, especially if blood sugar is not well controlled; Kidney disease: Diabetes can damage the kidneys. Kidney damage that leaks toxins into the bloodstream, leading to nerve damage; Being overweight: A body mass index (BMI) of 25 or higher may increase your risk of diabetic neuropathy; Smoking: Smoking narrows and hardens the arteries, causing reduced blood flow to the legs and feet. This makes it harder for the wound to heal, as well as damage to peripheral nerves.

Diabetic neuropathy can cause a number of serious complications, including:
Unconscious hypoglycemia Blood sugar levels below 70 mg/dL often cause tremors, sweating, and a rapid heart rate. But if you have autonomic neuropathy, you may not notice these warning signs.
Loss of toes, feet, or whole legs Nerve damage can cause you to lose feeling in your feet. As a result, even small cuts can turn into sores without you realizing it. In severe cases, the infection can spread to the bone or lead to tissue death. At this point, the patient is forced to remove (amputation) the toe, foot or even lower leg.
Urinary tract infections and urinary incontinence If the nerves that control your bladder are damaged, you may not be able to completely empty your bladder. Bacteria accumulate in the bladder and kidneys, causing urinary tract infections. Nerve damage can also affect the ability to perceive the need to urinate or control the muscles that release urine, leading to urinary incontinence.

Postural hypotension Damage to the nerves that control blood flow can affect the body's ability to regulate blood pressure. This causes blood pressure to drop sharply when you get up from sitting, leading to dizziness and fainting.
Digestive problems If nerve damage attacks your digestive tract, you may experience constipation, diarrhea, or both. This condition can also cause the rate of gastric emptying to be too slow, leading to bloating and indigestion.
Sexual dysfunction Autonomic neuropathy often damages the nerves involved in the sex organs. Men may experience erectile dysfunction, while women experience dryness and loss of arousal.
Increased or decreased sweating Nerve damage can disrupt sweat gland function, making it difficult for your body to properly control temperature.

In general, diabetic neuropathy symptoms include pain and numbness in the legs and feet, or problems with the digestive, urinary, blood vessels, and heart systems. People can prevent diabetic neuropathy or slow its progression by keeping their blood sugar under tight control, taking medication or changing their diet, and taking good care of their feet.
Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital is providing a Diabetes Screening Package to help patients detect the disease early and improve treatment efficiency.
To register for an examination at Vinmec International General Hospital, you can contact the nationwide Vinmec Health System Hotline, or register online HERE.
Reference source: mayoclinic.org