Your healthcare team should tell you which areas are affected and give advice on what to do about any symptoms you are having. The type of treatment you need will depend on the type of neuropathy.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy Diabetic sensory neuropathy Diabetic autonomic neuropathy Diabetic motor neuropathy. This stops essential nutrients reaching the nerves. As a result, the nerve fibres can become damaged, and they may disappear. This can cause problems in many different parts of your body, depending on the type of nerve affected.

No, diabetic neuropathy can't be reversed but the symptoms can be treated. Once the nerves have been damaged they cannot repair themselves.

But careful diabetes management including keeping your blood sugars as close to target as possible, and managing blood fat levels and blood pressure can prevent the damage from happening or prevent further damage if you already have some of the symptoms.

This may include medication for nausea and vomiting, painkillers for sensory neuropathy or treatment to help with erectile dysfunction.

Keeping your blood sugar levels within your target range and also your blood fat levels cholesterol and blood pressure can also help to improve the symptoms of neuropathy and reduce the progression of the nerve damage. The nerves carry chemical messages to and from the brain about what we can feel.

When the nerves are damaged these messages cannot be sent properly which leads to a change in sensation or feeling. This can lead to feelings of numbness, tingling, burning, discomfort or shooting pains.

Sometimes these sensations can be worse at night. We are not sure exactly why this is, but could be to do with cooler temperatures in the evening, stress at the end of a long day and fewer distractions in the evening meaning you notice the pain more. Living with any type of long-term pain whether you can always feel it or you regularly get periods of pain , can be very distressing and have a negative impact on your mental health and general wellbeing.

If you are experiencing regular or frequent pain which you are struggling to cope with you should contact your GP for advice and support. You can also contact our helpline or reach out on our forum.

You can help avoid diabetic neuropathy by keeping your blood sugar levels within your target range, which will help protect the blood vessels that supply your nerves. You should also check your feet every day and have your feet checked by a healthcare professional once a year.

Peripheral neuropathy is the most common type of neuropathy and is damage to the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. It affects the nerves particularly in the feet and hands and can be motor neuropathy, sensory neuropathy or both.

Nerves in your feet should be checked during your routine annual diabetes check-up. For more information on peripheral neuropathy including treatment and symptoms, go to the NHS website. Sensory neuropathy is damage to nerves that tell us how things feel, smell and look.

It affects the nerves that carry messages of touch, temperature, pain and other sensations from the skin, bones and muscles to the brain. It mainly affects the nerves in the feet and the legs, but people can also develop this type of neuropathy in their arms and hands.

Loss of feeling is dangerous because you may not notice minor injuries, for example if you step on something sharp while barefoot or get a blister from badly-fitting shoes. If ignored, minor injuries may develop into infections or ulcers. People with diabetes are more likely to be admitted to hospital with a foot ulcer than with any other diabetes complication.

High blood sugar glucose can injure nerves throughout the body. Diabetic neuropathy most often damages nerves in the legs and feet. Depending on the affected nerves, diabetic neuropathy symptoms include pain and numbness in the legs, feet and hands.

It can also cause problems with the digestive system, urinary tract, blood vessels and heart. Some people have mild symptoms.

But for others, diabetic neuropathy can be quite painful and disabling. But you can often prevent diabetic neuropathy or slow its progress with consistent blood sugar management and a healthy lifestyle.

There are four main types of diabetic neuropathy. You can have one type or more than one type of neuropathy. Your symptoms depend on the type you have and which nerves are affected.

Usually, symptoms develop gradually. You may not notice anything is wrong until considerable nerve damage has occurred. This type of neuropathy may also be called distal symmetric peripheral neuropathy.

It's the most common type of diabetic neuropathy. It affects the feet and legs first, followed by the hands and arms. Signs and symptoms of peripheral neuropathy are often worse at night, and may include:. The autonomic nervous system controls blood pressure, heart rate, sweating, eyes, bladder, digestive system and sex organs.

Diabetes can affect nerves in any of these areas, possibly causing signs and symptoms including:. This type of neuropathy often affects nerves in the thighs, hips, buttocks or legs. It can also affect the abdominal and chest area.

Symptoms are usually on one side of the body, but may spread to the other side. Proximal neuropathy may include:. Mononeuropathy refers to damage to a single, specific nerve. The nerve may be in the face, torso, arm or leg. Mononeuropathy may lead to:. The American Diabetes Association ADA recommends that screening for diabetic neuropathy begin immediately after someone is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or five years after diagnosis with type 1 diabetes.

After that, screening is recommended once a year. The exact cause of each type of neuropathy is unknown. Researchers think that over time, uncontrolled high blood sugar damages nerves and interferes with their ability to send signals, leading to diabetic neuropathy.

High blood sugar also weakens the walls of the small blood vessels capillaries that supply the nerves with oxygen and nutrients.

Anyone who has diabetes can develop neuropathy. But these risk factors make nerve damage more likely:. You can prevent or delay diabetic neuropathy and its complications by closely managing your blood sugar and taking good care of your feet.

The American Diabetes Association ADA recommends that people living with diabetes have a glycated hemoglobin A1C test at least twice a year. This test indicates your average blood sugar level for the past 2 to 3 months. glycated hemoglobin A1C goals may need to be individualized, but for many adults, the ADA recommends an A1C of less than 7.

If your blood sugar levels are higher than your goal, you may need changes in your daily management, such as adding or adjusting your medications or changing your diet or physical activity.

Foot problems, including sores that don't heal, ulcers and even amputation, are common complications of diabetic neuropathy. But you can prevent many of these problems by having a thorough foot exam at least once a year.

Also have your health care provider check your feet at each office visit and take good care of your feet at home. Follow your health care provider's recommendations for good foot care.

To protect the health of your feet:. On this page. When to see a doctor. Risk factors. A Book: The Essential Diabetes Book. Peripheral neuropathy This type of neuropathy may also be called distal symmetric peripheral neuropathy.

Signs and symptoms of peripheral neuropathy are often worse at night, and may include: Numbness or reduced ability to feel pain or temperature changes Tingling or burning feeling Sharp pains or cramps Muscle weakness Extreme sensitivity to touch — for some people, even a bedsheet's weight can be painful Serious foot problems, such as ulcers, infections, and bone and joint damage.

Autonomic neuropathy The autonomic nervous system controls blood pressure, heart rate, sweating, eyes, bladder, digestive system and sex organs. Diabetes can affect nerves in any of these areas, possibly causing signs and symptoms including: A lack of awareness that blood sugar levels are low hypoglycemia unawareness Drops in blood pressure when rising from sitting or lying down that may cause dizziness or fainting orthostatic hypotension Bladder or bowel problems Slow stomach emptying gastroparesis , causing nausea, vomiting, sensation of fullness and loss of appetite Difficulty swallowing Changes in the way the eyes adjust from light to dark or far to near Increased or decreased sweating Problems with sexual response, such as vaginal dryness in women and erectile dysfunction in men.

Proximal neuropathy diabetic polyradiculopathy This type of neuropathy often affects nerves in the thighs, hips, buttocks or legs. Proximal neuropathy may include: Severe pain in the buttock, hip or thigh Weak and shrinking thigh muscles Difficulty rising from a sitting position Chest or abdominal wall pain.

Mononeuropathy focal neuropathy Mononeuropathy refers to damage to a single, specific nerve. Mononeuropathy may lead to: Difficulty focusing or double vision Paralysis on one side of the face Numbness or tingling in the hand or fingers Weakness in the hand that may result in dropping things Pain in the shin or foot Weakness causing difficulty lifting the front part of the foot foot drop Pain in the front of the thigh.

More Information. Types of diabetic neuropathy. Call your health care provider for an appointment if you have: A cut or sore on your foot that is infected or won't heal Burning, tingling, weakness or pain in your hands or feet that interferes with daily activities or sleep Changes in digestion, urination or sexual function Dizziness and fainting The American Diabetes Association ADA recommends that screening for diabetic neuropathy begin immediately after someone is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or five years after diagnosis with type 1 diabetes.

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You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. But these risk factors make nerve damage more likely: Poor blood sugar control. Uncontrolled blood sugar increases the risk of every diabetes complication, including nerve damage. Diabetes history.

The risk of diabetic neuropathy increases the longer a person has diabetes, especially if blood sugar isn't well controlled. Kidney disease. Diabetes can damage the kidneys.

Kidney damage sends toxins into the blood, which can lead to nerve damage. Being overweight. Having a body mass index BMI of 25 or more may increase the risk of diabetic neuropathy. Smoking narrows and hardens the arteries, reducing blood flow to the legs and feet. This makes it more difficult for wounds to heal and damages the peripheral nerves.

Diabetic neuropathy can cause a number of serious complications, including: Hypoglycemia unawareness. But people who have autonomic neuropathy may not experience these warning signs.

Loss of a toe, foot or leg. Nerve damage can cause a loss of feeling in the feet, so even minor cuts can turn into sores or ulcers without being noticed. In severe cases, an infection can spread to the bone or lead to tissue death.

Removal amputation of a toe, foot or even part of the leg may be necessary. Urinary tract infections and urinary incontinence. If the nerves that control the bladder are damaged, the bladder may not empty completely when urinating.

Bacteria can build up in the bladder and kidneys, causing urinary tract infections. Nerve damage can also affect the ability to feel the need to urinate or to control the muscles that release urine, leading to leakage incontinence.

Sharp drops in blood pressure. Damage to the nerves that control blood flow can affect the body's ability to adjust blood pressure. This can cause a sharp drop in pressure when standing after sitting or lying down, which may lead to lightheadedness and fainting.

Digestive problems. If nerve damage occurs in the digestive tract, constipation or diarrhea, or both are possible. Diabetes-related nerve damage can lead to gastroparesis, a condition in which the stomach empties too slowly or not at all. This can cause bloating and indigestion.

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.

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Home Health Information Diabetes Diabetes Overview Preventing Diabetes Problems Diabetic Neuropathy. English English Español. What Is Diabetic Neuropathy? Peripheral Neuropathy Peripheral neuropathy is a type of nerve damage that typically affects the feet and legs and sometimes affects the hands and arms.

Autonomic 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.

Focal Neuropathies Focal neuropathies are conditions in which you typically have damage to single nerves, most often in your hand, head, torso, or leg. Proximal Neuropathy Proximal neuropathy is a rare and disabling type of nerve damage in your hip, buttock, or thigh.

Eventually the painful symptoms stop but the person now has a chronic feeling of numbness or coldness in their feet. Have a complete foot exam once a year. If you already have foot problems, have your feet checked more often.

A complete foot exam includes a check of the skin on your feet, your foot muscles and bones, and your blood flow. Your provider will also check for numbness in your feet by touching your foot with a monofilament.

It looks like a stiff piece of nylon fishing line or a bristle in a hairbrush. Other ways to check your nerves include using a tuning fork. It may be touched to your foot to see if you can feel it moving. If the doctor thinks you might have nerve damage, you may have tests that look at how well the nerves in your arms and legs are working.

Nerve conduction studies check the speed with which nerves send messages. An EMG checks how your nerves and muscles work together. Once neuropathy is detected, the focus is on keeping the feet and legs healthy and on managing pain.

To treat nerve damage, you will need to keep your blood glucose levels in your target range, manage your pain and protect your feet.

Many people get depressed when they have nerve damage and may need medication for depression as well as counseling. Medications to relieve pain and reduce burning, numbness and tingling are available. Some of these are known for their use in other conditions but they still seem to help those with nerve damage.

Breadcrumb Home About Diabetes Diabetes Complications Understanding Neuropathy and Your Diabetes Peripheral Neuropathy. About Diabetes. Symptoms Look at the list below, make a note about any symptoms you have and share it with your doctor during your next office visit.

Tingling My feet tingle. I feel "pins and needles" in my feet. Pain or increased sensitivity I have burning, stabbing or shooting pains in my feet.