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Symptoms of Nerve Damage from Diabetes

Diabetes is a lifelong condition which results from a deficiency in the body's insulin. Often this means that a person has blood sugar which is much too high, and which can lead to a variety of physical problems. Often those who have diabetes for long periods of time will notice that, as their condition worsens, they may experience damage to their nerves, which can lead to even more problems.

  1. Diabetic Neuropathies

    • The name for the conditions caused by the nerve damage of diabetes are collectively called diabetic neuropathies. More than half, from 60 perent to 70 percent, of people who suffer from diabetes will develop some variety of neuropathy. These nerve problems can occur in every organ and body system, and are not limited to sensory nerves.

    Numbness

    • One of the most common symptoms of nerve damage from diabetes is tingling or numbness in the extremities. This can include the toes, feet, hands, arms, legs and fingers feeling numb or experiencing pain for no apparent reason. Since nerve damage is progressive, and takes place over several years, the symptoms are rarely noticed at first.

    Stomach and Digestive Problems

    • Other symptoms of nerve damage are often centered around the stomach and digestive problems. Diarrhea or constipation can be caused by nerve damage, as can indigestion, nausea and vomiting. In addition to these, diabetes may also damage nerves which make urination difficult, or even painful.

    Weakness

    • Diabetic neuropathies can also cause a great amount of weakness in people who suffer from them. One of the more common symptoms is that people who suffer from diabetes may see their muscles weaken and waste away in their feet and hands. Some sufferers may also experience dizziness after sitting or standing up, mostly due to the change in blood pressure. In men, erectile dysfunction may also occur, or in women, vaginal dryness.

    Cause?

    • Since there are so many different types of nerve damage that can result from people who live with diabetes, there isn't one set cause that creates a certain class of symptoms. However, some factors that do cause nerve damage in those with diabetes have been identified. Smoking and using alcohol, inherited predisposition to nerve disorders, injury to nerves from other conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, and autoimmune system factors that may cause swelling in the nerves are all contributors to the nerve damage caused by diabetes.

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