March 01, 2024

Diabetic Neuropathy

13 minutes

Diabetic neuropathy is a type of nerve damage that can occur if you have diabetes. High blood sugar (glucose) can injure nerves throughout the body. Diabetic neuropathy most often damages nerves in the legs and feet.

Diabetic neuropathy is a profoundly serious complication of diabetes that may affect up to 50% of people with diabetes. Slow its progress with consistent blood sugar management and a healthy lifestyle.

There are different types of neuropathies based on the nerve that is involved:

Peripheral neuropathy (very common) is a type of nerve damage that usually affects the feet and legs and sometimes affects the hands and arms. About one-third to one-half of people with diabetes have peripheral neuropathy.

Autonomic neuropathy is damage to nerves that control your internal organs, leading to problems with your heart rate and blood pressure, digestive system, bladder, sex organs, sweat glands, and eyes. The damage can also lead to hypoglycaemia unawareness.

Focal neuropathies are conditions in which you typically have damage to single nerves, most often in your hand, head, torso, or leg. The most common types of focal neuropathy are entrapment syndromes, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Other types of focal neuropathy are much less common.

Proximal neuropathy is a rare and disabling type of nerve damage in your hip, buttock, or thigh. The damage typically affects one side of your body and may rarely spread to the other side. Symptoms gradually improve over a period of months or years.

SUPPORT GROUPS

The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy www.foundationforpn.org/support/support-groups

Peripheral Neuropathy Resources Online Support Group www.peripheralneuropathyresources.com

Peripheral Neuropathy Success Stories (Private Facebook Group)

Peripheral Neuropathy Resources (Facebook Group)

Neuropathy Care Support Group (Facebook Group)

Our Neuropathy Friends (Facebook Group)

Our Neuropathy Friends Spouses (Facebook Group)

Peripheral Neuropathy Support Network www.pnsnetwork.org

On Your Feet (Facebook Group)

Western Neuropathy Association Contact: Katherine Stenzel at [email protected]

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