One of the consequences of having diabetes is that over time it can damage the nerves through your body. This common condition is called diabetic neuropathy and when it’s left untreated, it can lead to serious health implications such as foot ulcers, infections and even amputations. The symptoms of diabetic neuropathy depend on the nerve fibres that are affected.
Article Highlights
- Recognize common symptoms of diabetes-related nerve damage.
- Learn how neuropathy can affect your feet, digestion, bladder and blood pressure.
- Know when to seek medical advice about new or worsening symptoms.
- Discover how regular foot checks and diabetes management can help prevent complications.
Here are 11 warning signs for diabetes-related nerve damage that you should keep on your radar.
These symptoms can have causes other than diabetes-related nerve damage, so experiencing one or more of them does not necessarily mean you have diabetic neuropathy. Your healthcare provider can assess your symptoms and determine whether further testing is needed. Nerve damage can also develop without noticeable symptoms, which is why regular screening is important for people living with diabetes.
1. Tingling or numbness in the hands and feet
This is often a sign of early damage to the nerves of your peripheral nervous system, which lead to the legs, feet, arms and hands.
Diabetes-related nerve damage can develop even when you do not notice any symptoms. If you live with diabetes, have your feet examined regularly by your healthcare provider as part of your diabetes care. Check your feet daily for cuts, blisters, redness, swelling or sores, especially if you have reduced sensation. Seek prompt medical attention for any foot wound that is not healing or shows signs of infection.
2. Muscle mishaps
Weakness, cramps, sharp pains or twitching in your muscles can also signal damage to your peripheral nerves due to diabetes. These symptoms are often worse at night.
3. Loss of balance and coordination
Not surprising, when the nerves affecting your legs and feet are damaged you’re also more likely to feel off kilter sometimes.
4. Changes in your sense of touch
Diabetes-related nerve damage can also make you particularly sensitive to touch. Even the weight of a bed sheet can be painful for some people.
5. One-sided pain
More common in those with type 2 diabetes, pain down only one side of your leg could signal a type of neuropathy called diabetic amyotrophy. This condition affects nerves in the thighs, hips, buttocks or legs, and usually occurs on only one side of the body.
6. Stomach problems
When nerve damage strikes your digestive tract, you may experience bouts of nausea, bloating, constipation or diarrhea. Diabetes-related nerve damage can lead to gastroparesis, where your stomach empties too slowly or not at all. In turn, this can wreak havoc on digestion and your blood sugar control. You can make dietary changes to improve this condition.
7. Frequent bladder issues
When you can’t sense that your bladder is full due to nerve damage, you’re at risk of experiencing more frequent urinary tract infections. Similarly when you can’t control the muscles that stop urine, you run the risk of bladder accidents.
8. Sexual dysfunction
Nerve-related damage can result in a lack of sexual response even if your sex drive is intact. Men may not be able to have erections or reach climax, while women may have issues with arousal, vaginal dryness or climax.
9. Dizziness or drops in blood pressure
When the nerves that control blood flow are damaged, it can affect your body’s ability to adjust blood pressure. This may lead to dizziness or even fainting episodes when you stand up after sitting.
10. Perspiration problems
When the sweat glands aren’t functioning properly due to nerve damage, you’ll have trouble controlling your body temperature. As a result, you may sweat too much or not enough, which could lead to dry skin and skin infections.
11. Nerve damage affecting the eyes
Diabetes can also cause nerve problems in the eyes and face, leading to aching eyes, difficulty focusing, double vision and paralysis of the face (Bell’s palsy). Diabetic retinopathy is a separate complication, as a result of damage to the retina’s blood vessels, that can threaten vision.
When to seek medical attention
Contact your healthcare provider promptly if you develop new or worsening numbness, tingling, burning pain, weakness or changes in balance. Seek urgent medical attention for a foot wound with signs of infection or a rapidly worsening foot problem. Call 911 if you experience sudden facial drooping, sudden weakness on one side of the body, sudden difficulty speaking or sudden vision loss, as these may be signs of a stroke or another medical emergency.
3 Steps to Help Protect Your Nerves
- Check your feet today. Look for cuts, blisters, redness or sores you may not feel.
- Make symptom reporting a habit. Tell your healthcare provider about new tingling, numbness, pain or changes in balance.
- Keep up with preventive care. Work with your diabetes healthcare team to manage blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol, and arrange regular foot examinations.
Symptoms of diabetes-related nerve damage often develop gradually, and early assessment can help identify problems and reduce the risk of further complications. Prompt attention to nerve damage and regular foot care can help prevent serious outcomes, such as foot ulcers and amputations.
Prevention is key! Keeping your blood sugar levels at target, and implementing a healthy meal and exercise plan can also help decrease your risk of diabetic neuropathy, and prevent it from getting worse.
