The 411 on Diabetic Neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy is a serious diabetes complication. It refers to a type of nerve damage, most often found in the legs and feet. Diabetic neuropathy can affect up to 50% of people with diabetes, so it’s important to understand what to look for and how to prevent it.

There are actually four main types of diabetic neuropathy. In this article, we’ll focus on peripheral neuropathy for two main reasons: because it is the most common type of diabetic neuropathy, and because it affects the legs and feet.

What Causes It

Although the exact cause of diabetic neuropathy is unknown, most researchers believe that the uncontrolled high blood sugar levels interfere with their ability to send signals leading to nerve damage.

Symptoms

There are several symptoms you may experience, and most of them will develop gradually. These include:

• • • • Numbness in the legs and feet
      • Reduced ability to feel pain or temperature changes
      • Burning or tingling in the legs and feet
      • Cramps or sharp pain
      • Weakness of the muscles in the legs
      • Extreme sensitivity to touch
      • Ulcers, infections, or damage to bones and joints