Diabetic neuropathy is a type of nerve damage caused by high blood sugar levels. As a person with Type 2 diabetes, understanding diabetic neuropathy, and knowing how you can prevent or minimise this type of damage is important to you. You’ll also want to know about its symptoms, treatment options, and when you should turn to your doctor for help. This resource aims to give you all the basic information you need about this common but serious diabetes-related complication.

Types of Diabetic Neuropathy

Peripheral Neuropathy

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is extremely common among people living with Type 2 diabetes. It’s estimated that it affects up to fifty percent of people with diabetes. It affects nerves in the feet, legs, hands, and sometimes arms.

Symptoms include numbness, tingling or burning sensations, pain, weakness of the muscles, hypersensitivity to touch, and infections or ulcers, particularly on the feet. These diabetic neuropathy symptoms are sometimes the reason why people with undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes reach out for help from their doctors.

Autonomic Neuropathy

Your autonomic nervous system controls your internal organs, and damage to these nerves can lead to serious issues affecting your heart, blood pressure, digestive system, bladder, sexual organs, eyes, and even your sweat glands. Fortunately, this type of neuropathy is rarer, especially among the newly-diagnosed, but if diabetes is not well-managed, it becomes more likely over time.

Focal Neuropathy

Focal neuropathy, as the name suggests, affects a single nerve. The most frequently-affected sites are a hand, a leg, the head, or the torso. Although this category includes a host of possible neuropathies, the most common types can be classified as “entrapment syndromes” - what most people would call a “pinched nerve.”

Proximal Neuropathy

Proximal neuropathy is extremely rare. It’s also disabling. When it occurs, it affects the hip, buttock, or thigh, usually on one side of the body only. Fortunately, this type of neuropathy can improve with time, but this can take months to years.

Causes of Diabetic Neuropathy

Having Type 2 diabetes means that your body becomes unable to control its blood glucose levels well because the insulin your pancreas secretes either doesn’t work as it should, or there isn’t enough of it in the first place. When blood sugar levels rise too high, the nerves are damaged. Besides this, the negative effect of high blood sugar levels on the small blood vessels that supply and sustain nerves aggravates the problem.

How is Diabetic Neuropathy Diagnosed?

The symptoms you report to your doctor are likely to be the first step towards diagnosing neuropathy. Your doctor will follow up with a physical examination, looking for signs of weakened muscles and reduced or overly intense reactions to sensations. Your feet will receive extra attention if your doctor thinks you might be experiencing peripheral neuropathy since they will want to assess your risk of diabetes-related foot problems.

Changes in your blood pressure when you adopt different postures could be an indication of autonomic neuropathy. If your doctor suspects this type of neuropathy, they may refer you for further tests to check how your nerves and organs are functioning.

Treatment for Diabetic Neuropathy

The focus of your treatment will be relieving your symptoms and preventing even more damage from occurring. Your doctor is likely to suggest lifestyle changes that will help you to manage your blood glucose levels better. This could mean adjusting your diet and getting more exercise.

If you have Type 2 diabetic neuropathy of the peripheral nervous system, you’ll get extra advice on how to care for your feet to reduce the chances of infected sores or ulcers.

Any medicines that your doctor prescribes will target better control over blood sugar levels or treatment of symptoms such as pain. By following your treatment plan, you should be able to prevent nerve damage from getting worse and you can reduce the uncomfortable symptoms that go with diabetic neuropathy.

Steps You Can Take to Prevent Diabetic Neuropathy

If you have Type 2 diabetes, neuropathy needn’t be an unavoidable consequence. And, if you already have some form of neuropathy, you can use the same strategies to prevent your condition from getting more serious.

Keeping your blood glucose at healthy levels as much as you possibly can will be a priority. You should also be mindful of your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Although this may sound difficult, your determination and self-discipline will have real benefits for your overall health, and the things you need to do are relatively simple and very practical.

Topping the list, following your doctor's recommendations and diabetes treatment plan will be a huge help. Apart from getting medications that will help you, you’ll get advice on how to manage your diet - it’s not all that limiting once you get used to it - and you’re sure to be told about the benefits of exercise. That needn’t be problematic, since light to moderate exercise will be best for you.

If you’re carrying some extra weight, weight loss will help you to control your diabetes better - and with healthy eating and exercise on the to-do list, that’s likely to happen without much extra effort on your part. If you smoke, kicking the habit will be among your priorities, and it will be important to limit or cut out alcohol.

When to See A Doctor

The time to see a doctor depends on your circumstances. If you don’t have a formal diagnosis and are experiencing what you think may be diabetic neuropathy symptoms, you should see your doctor as soon as possible. If you are diagnosed, you’ll get treatment and actionable lifestyle advice, and the sooner you begin, the less the nerve damage will be.

If you have already been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, you should report any changes in your overall health to your doctor. It may be necessary to adjust your medications, or you may need further advice on how to manage your condition.

Type 2 Diabetes and Your Family

Sometimes, people are reluctant to talk about their diabetes - even with close family members, and especially children. However, it’s important that you should do so. There’s a good chance that you’ll need their support in preserving your health and implementing any lifestyle changes you’ve resolved to make. It will also equip them to understand your symptoms and help you in the event of emergencies.

From your perspective, you may also have concerns about your family’s future as diabetes brings home the possibility that you may not always be there for them. Life insurance offers you peace of mind - at least, regarding their financial future. Choose an insurance company that specialises in offering life insurance for people with chronic conditions. Blueberry Life can help you get over this hurdle easily, freeing you up to focus on wellness. Complete a simple online application form and discover just how quick and easy getting life insurance can be.

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Reviewed by Dr. Kingshuk Pal