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Diabetic Neuropathy

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(Nerve Damage of Diabetes)

Definition

Diabetic neuropathy is a type of nerve damage associated with diabetes. It results in damage to the nerves in a person’s feet, legs, and eyes, and to the nerves that control bodily functions, such as digestion, blood pressure, and heart rate. Diabetic neuropathy can lead to serious complications, including ulcers , infection, and limb loss.
Nerves of the Foot
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Causes

Researchers believe that diabetic neuropathy is likely caused by a combination of factors, including:

Risk Factors

The following factors are thought to increase the risk of diabetic neuropathy:

Symptoms

Symptoms of diabetic neuropathy may include:
  • Numbness in the extremities
  • Tingling in the extremities
  • Pain in the extremities
  • Wasting of the muscles of the feet or hands
  • Indigestion
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea or constipation
  • Dizziness or fainting
  • Urination problems
  • Impotence or vaginal dryness
  • Weakness in arms and or legs
  • Foot drop
  • Weakness of facial muscles resulting in drooping eyelid, drooping mouth, facial droop, difficulty swallowing
  • Muscle cramps
  • A prolonged feeling of fullness after eating, and/or abdominal pain
  • Heat intolerance due to a decreased ability to sweat normally
If you have diabetic neuropathy, you are at increased risk for developing other types of neuropathies, such as carpal tunnel syndrome .

Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. He will also do a physical exam. Other tests may include:
  • Foot exam—to assess sensation in the foot
  • Nerve conduction studies —to test nerve activity
  • Electromyography —to determine how muscles respond to nerve signals
  • Quantitative sensory testing—the use of stimuli (eg, vibration) to check for neuropathy
  • Quantitative sudomotor axon reflex test—a test to evaluate the nerve supply of sweat glands
  • Heart rate tests—to determine how the heart responds to changes
  • Ultrasound—a test that uses sound waves to view internal organs
  • Biopsy —to remove a sample of nerve or skin tissue for examination

Treatment

Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. Treatment options include:

Blood Glucose Management

It is important to regularly monitor blood glucose levels. You can bring them within normal range with meal planning, exercise, and/or medicines.

Foot Care

If you have diabetic neuropathy, you will need to take special care of your feet. The nerves in the feet are the ones most often affected by neuropathy. This care will involve regular visits to a foot doctor and careful cleaning, inspection, moisturizing, and grooming of your feet. In addition, always wear well-fitting shoes and thick, soft, seamless socks to help protect your feet from injuries.

Other Treatments

Other treatments will depend on your symptoms. Medicines can be used to relieve pain, burning, tingling, or numbness. Often, the medicines used to treat these symptoms are the same ones used to treat seizures and depression . Another option to treat pain is called transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). With TENS, a machine sends painless electrical signals through the skin to the nerves. Your doctor may offer this treatment.
If you have gastrointestinal problems, modifying your diet and/or taking an antibiotic can help. Taking care when sitting or standing, increasing salt intake, or taking medicines can help manage dizziness and weakness. An antibiotic can be prescribed to treat a urinary tract infection . Medicines can be used to treat erectile dysfunction, and vaginal lubricants are recommended to treat vaginal dryness.

Prevention

The best way to prevent diabetic neuropathy is to regularly monitor and manage your blood glucose levels. Your doctor can instruct you about how often to check your levels and what the numbers mean.

RESOURCES

American Diabetes Association http://www.diabetes.org/

National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/

CANADIAN RESOURCES

Canadian Diabetes Association http://www.diabetes.ca/

Health Canada http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index%5Fe.html

References

American Academy of Neurology practice parameters for diagnostic testing for distal symmetric polyneuropathy. Neurology . December 3, 2008.

DynaMed Editorial Team. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php . Updated November 2, 2010. Accessed November 4, 2010.

Harati Y, Bosch EP. Disorders of peripheral nerves. In: Bradley WG, ed. Neurology in Clinical Practice . 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Butterworth Heinemann Elsevier; 2008.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Diabetic neuropathies: the nerve damage of diabetes. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. Available at: http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/neuropathies/ . Accessed May 24, 2007.

Ogawa K, Sasaki H, Yamasaki H, et al. Peripheral nerve functions may deteriorate parallel to the progression of microangiopathy in diabetic patients. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis . 2006;16:313-321.

Stewart JD. Diabetic neuropathies. In: Gilman S, ed. Medlink website. Available at: http://www.medlink.com . Accessed August 10, 2007.

University of Chicago, Center for Peripheral Neuropathy website. http://millercenter.uchicago.edu/learnaboutpn/typesofpn/diabetes/index.shtml . Accessed January 15, 2010.

Vinik AI. Diabetic neuropathies. Med Clin North Am . 2004;88:947-999.

2/4/2010 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance : Dubinsky RM, Miyasaki J. Assessment: efficacy of transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation in the treatment of pain in neurologic disorders (an evidence-based review): report of the Therapeutics and Technology Assessment Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Neurology . 2010;74(2):173-176.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

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