Effect of diabetes on the nervous system
When the patient’s blood sugar level/blood sugar level remains high for a long time, the blood vessels in the body that feed the nerves themselves will be damaged. When these blood vessels themselves are damaged, the nerves in the patient’s body will automatically get damaged. The end result of the damage to these nerves can be felt by the patient in his/her legs/feet and in his/her hands. In some cases, the nerves that are damaged due to damage to the blood vessels carry them to the patient’s digestive organs. As a result, the functioning of the vital organs of the patient’s body will get disrupted due to the damage. Nerve damage caused by diabetes is called diabetic neuropathy. Some reports mention that neuropathy is present in up to 50% of people with diabetes.
Diabetes has the potential to greatly impact the nervous system by inducing nerve damage, referred to as diabetic neuropathy, which may result in sensations such as numbness, tingling, burning pain, and muscle weakness, particularly in the extremities, owing to elevated blood sugar levels harming the nerves throughout the body; this harm can additionally influence the autonomic nervous system, causing problems such as gastrointestinal issues and fluctuations in blood pressure.
Key points regarding diabetes and the nervous system:
Diabetic Neuropathy:
This stands as the main neurological complication of diabetes, resulting in damage to peripheral nerves, frequently impacting the legs and feet initially, resulting in sensory loss, discomfort, and disrupted coordination.
Autonomic Nervous System Dysfunction:
Diabetes may also influence the autonomic nervous system, which governs involuntary actions such as sweating, digestion, and blood pressure control, leading to symptoms such as dizziness when standing and irregular sweating patterns.
Central Nervous System Impact:
Though less frequent, diabetes can also influence the central nervous system (brain), potentially leading to cognitive decline, memory issues, and mood alterations due to reduced blood flow and damage to cerebral blood vessels.
Symptoms of Diabetic Neuropathy:
Numbness and tingling in the hands and feet
Burning or shooting pains
Difficulty walking due to sensory loss
Muscle weakness
Loss of reflexes
Impaired bowel and bladder function
Managing Nerve Damage:
Maintaining strict blood sugar levels is vital to prevent or hinder the advancement of diabetic neuropathy.
Medications may be utilized to alleviate pain and other symptoms.
Lifestyle changes such as consistent exercise and foot care hold significant importance.
What is diabetic neuropathy?
Diabetic neuropathy occurs when diabetes harms your nerves. It can impact various types of nerves in your body, including those in your feet, organs, and muscles.
Nerves transmit messages between the brain and every part of our bodies, enabling us to see, hear, feel, and move. They also convey signals to body parts like the heart, influencing its beating speed and to the lungs, facilitating our breathing.
Nerve damage can lead to significant issues in different areas of the body for individuals with type 1, type 2, or other forms of diabetes.
On this page, we cover:
Causes of diabetic neuropathy
Types of diabetic neuropathy
Symptoms of diabetic neuropathy
Why diabetic neuropathy can be so painful
Screening for diabetic neuropathy
Treatment for diabetic neuropathy
Can diabetic neuropathy be reversed?
How to prevent diabetic neuropathy
Causes of diabetic neuropathy
Neuropathy is one of the long-term complications associated with diabetes.
Over time, elevated blood glucose levels, also referred to as blood sugar levels, can damage the small blood vessels that supply nerves throughout your body. This impairs the delivery of essential nutrients to the nerves, causing nerve fibres to sustain damage or possibly even disappear. This may result in issues in various parts of your body, depending on which type of nerve is affected.
Types of diabetic neuropathy
There are four primary types of diabetic neuropathy:
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy
Diabetic sensory neuropathy
Diabetic autonomic neuropathy
Diabetic motor neuropathy
Individuals with the condition may experience one type or any combination of the types.
Your healthcare team should inform you which areas are affected and provide guidance on managing any symptoms you may encounter. The required treatment will vary based on the type of neuropathy.
Symptoms of diabetic neuropathy
The symptoms you experience will be determined by the type of nerves that have been injured, but more common symptoms include:
altered sensation including numbness, tingling, or burning
pain
variations in normal bodily functions, such as constipation or diarrhoea, bladder leakage, or difficulty achieving an erection
weakness
loss of reflexes.
You can read more about the symptoms of the four types of neuropathy below.
Diabetic neuropathy pain
Why is diabetic neuropathy often so painful?
Nerves transmit chemical messages to and from the brain regarding what we can feel. When nerves are damaged, these messages cannot be properly sent, resulting in altered sensation or feeling. This may lead to sensations of numbness, tingling, burning, discomfort, or sharp pains.
At times, these sensations may intensify at night. The exact reason for this is not well understood, but it may relate to cooler evening temperatures, stress accumulated over a long day, and fewer distractions at night, leading you to notice the pain more.
Living with any form of chronic pain, whether it is constantly present or occurs in intervals, can be very upsetting. It can also negatively affect your mental health and overall wellbeing.
If you are experiencing regular or frequent pain that you find difficult to manage, you should reach out to your GP for advice and support. You may also contact our helpline or participate in our forum.
Screening for diabetic neuropathy
Your doctor or diabetes nurse will assess you for signs of diabetic neuropathy during your yearly review. This will involve:
checking the sensation in your feet and your reflexes using specialized equipment
monitoring blood fats, referred to as cholesterol, and blood pressure which may influence your risk of developing neuropathy
asking about any other symptoms you might be experiencing.
However, not all forms of neuropathy are screened for, so it is crucial that you discuss any new or aggravated symptoms with your GP.
Treatment for diabetic neuropathy
Numerous treatments are available to alleviate the symptoms associated with neuropathy.
This may encompass medication for nausea or vomiting, pain relievers for sensory neuropathy or interventions to assist with erectile dysfunction.
Additionally, research is ongoing to determine if electrical stimulation (TENS – transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) can aid in the treatment of diabetic neuropathy.
The treatment will vary depending on the specific nerves that have been damaged.
Properly managing your diabetes and keeping your cholesterol and blood pressure within optimal ranges can also help enhance the symptoms of neuropathy and prevent further nerve damage.
Can diabetic neuropathy be reversed?
Occasionally, neuropathy may improve with time if the underlying cause is addressed, but in certain individuals, the damage could be irreversible or worsen over time. Frequently, the treatment for neuropathy targets the symptoms rather than the nerve damage itself.
When nerves have sustained serious damage, they typically cannot mend themselves; however, researchers are still investigating how this damage occurs and whether new therapies might aid in repairing it. For instance, our research has indicated that chili can be beneficial in treating foot complications.
How to prevent diabetic neuropathy
You can help prevent diabetic neuropathy by obtaining support for maintaining physical activity and consuming a nutritious, well-balanced diet. Your diet should consist of all necessary vitamins and minerals, as these may assist in shielding against and repairing initial nerve damage.
Thorough diabetes management, which includes maintaining your blood sugar levels as close to the target as possible, along with controlling cholesterol and blood pressure, can help safeguard the blood vessels supplying the nerves. This may also improve your symptoms and prevent additional damage if you are already experiencing some symptoms.
Additionally, you should examine your feet each day and have your feet assessed by a healthcare professional annually. This is especially crucial if you suspect that you’ve lost sensation in your feet. Consult your diabetes healthcare team for guidance if you believe you are showing any indications of neuropathy.
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy, the most prevalent form of neuropathy, involves damage to the nerves situated outside the brain and spinal cord.
It impacts the nerves, specifically in the feet and hands, and can manifest as either motor neuropathy, sensory neuropathy, or a combination of both. The nerves in your feet should be examined during your regular annual diabetes check-up.
For additional details regarding peripheral neuropathy, including treatment options and symptoms, visit the NHS website.
Diabetic sensory neuropathy
Sensory neuropathy involves damage to the nerves that convey information about how things feel, smell, and appear.
It affects the nerves responsible for transmitting sensations of touch, temperature, pain, and other feelings from the skin, bones, and muscles to the brain. It primarily impacts the nerves in the feet and legs, but individuals may also experience this form of neuropathy in their arms and hands.
The primary concern regarding sensory neuropathy for someone with diabetes is the loss of feeling in the feet, particularly if the individual is unaware that this has occurred.
Loss of sensation poses risks because you might not notice minor injuries, such as stepping on a sharp object while barefoot or developing a blister from improperly fitting shoes.
If neglected, minor injuries could lead to infections or ulcers. This is why it is crucial to care for your feet when you have diabetes.
Symptoms of sensory neuropathy in feet, legs, hands, and arms
tingling and numbness
loss of ability to feel pain
loss of ability to feel changes in temperature
loss of coordination – when you can’t feel the position of your joints
burning or shooting pains – these may be more intense at night.
People with diabetes have a higher likelihood of being hospitalized due to a foot ulcer compared to any other complication associated with diabetes.
If you experience neuropathy, your chances of developing Charcot foot increase. This condition is considered one of the serious foot issues linked to diabetes. We have additional information regarding the causes of Charcot foot, along with treatment and prevention methods.
Diabetic autonomic neuropathy
Autonomic neuropathy involves the damage to nerves that transmit information to your organs and glands. These nerves assist in managing functions that occur automatically, such as the emptying of your stomach, the regularity of your heartbeats, and the functioning of your sexual organs.
Examples of autonomic neuropathy:
gastroparesis – when food cannot pass through the digestive system effectively. Symptoms may include bloating, constipation, or diarrhoea.
loss of bladder control, which results in the inability to manage when you urinate, commonly referred to as incontinence.
irregular heartbeats
issues with sweating – either a failure to sweat adequately and a sensitivity to heat, or sweating triggered by consuming food, known as gustatory sweating.
inability to maintain an erection, also called impotence.
lightheadedness when transitioning from lying down to standing up.
तंत्रिका तंत्र पर मधुमेह का प्रभाव
जब रोगी का रक्त शर्करा स्तर / रक्त शर्करा का स्तर लंबे समय तक रहता है, तो शरीर में रक्त वाहिकाएं जो तंत्रिकाओं को खिलाती हैं, वे स्वयं क्षतिग्रस्त हो जाएंगी। जब ये रक्त वाहिकाएं स्वयं क्षतिग्रस्त हो जाती हैं, तो रोगी के शरीर की नसें अपने आप क्षतिग्रस्त हो जाएंगी। इन नसों को हुए नुकसान का अंतिम परिणाम रोगी को उसके पैरों / पैरों और उसके हाथों में महसूस किया जा सकता है। कुछ मामलों में, रक्त वाहिकाओं में क्षति के कारण क्षतिग्रस्त होने वाली नसें रोगी के पाचन अंगों तक ले जाती हैं। नतीजतन, नुकसान के कारण रोगी के शरीर के महत्वपूर्ण अंगों की कार्यप्रणाली बाधित हो जाएगी। मधुमेह के कारण तंत्रिका को होने वाली क्षति को मधुमेह न्यूरोपैथी कहा जाता है। कुछ रिपोर्टों में उल्लेख किया गया है कि मधुमेह वाले 50% लोगों में न्यूरोपैथी मौजूद है।
