Diabetic neuropathy

What is diabetic neuropathy?
Diabetic neuropathy is a peripheral nerve disorder caused by diabetes or poor blood sugar control. The most common types of diabetic neuropathy result in problems with sensation in the feet. It can develop slowly after many years of diabetes or may occur early in the disease. The symptoms are numbness, pain, or tingling in the feet or lower legs. The pain can be intense and require treatment to relieve the discomfort. The loss of sensation in the feet may also increase the possibility that foot injuries will go unnoticed and develop into ulcers or lesions that become infected. In some cases, diabetic neuropathy can be associated with difficulty walking and some weakness in the foot muscles. There are other types of diabetic-related neuropathies that affect specific parts of the body. For example, diabetic amyotrophy causes pain, weakness and wasting of the thigh muscles, or cranial nerve infarcts that may result in double vision, a drooping eyelid, or dizziness. Diabetes can also affect the autonomic nerves that control blood pressure, the digestive tract, bladder function, and sexual organs. Problems with the autonomic nerves may cause lightheadedness, indigestion, diarrhea or constipation, difficulty with bladder control, and impotence.

Is there any treatment?
The goal of treating diabetic neuropathy is to prevent further tissue damage and relieve discomfort. The first step is to bring blood sugar levels under control by diet and medication. Another important part of treatment involves taking special care of the feet by wearing proper fitting shoes and routinely checking the feet for cuts and infections. Analgesics, low doses of antidepressants, and some anticonvulsant medications may be prescribed for relief of pain, burning, or tingling. Some individuals find that walking regularly, taking warm baths, or using elastic stockings may help relieve leg pain.

What is the prognosis?
The prognosis for diabetic neuropathy depends largely on how well the underlying condition of diabetes is handled. Treating diabetes may halt progression and improve symptoms of the neuropathy, but recovery is slow. The painful sensations of diabetic neuropathy may become severe enough to cause depression in some patients.

What research is being done?
The NINDS conducts and supports research on diabetic neuropathy aimed at increasing understanding of the disorder and finding ways to prevent and cure it. New medications are currently being examined to assess improvement or stabilization of neuropathic symptoms.

Select this link to view a list of studies currently seeking patients.

Organizations
American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA)
P.O. Box 850
Rocklin, CA 95677-0850
https://www.theacpa.org
916-632-0922, 800-533-3231

American Diabetes Association
1701 North Beauregard Street
Alexandria, VA 22311
https://www.diabetes.org
800-DIABETES (342-2383), 703-549-1500

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
National Institutes of Health, DHHS
31 Center Dr, Room 5B-55
Bethesda, MD 20892
https://www.nidr.nih.gov
301-496-4261

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, International
26 Broadway, 14th Floor
New York, NY 10004
https://www.jdrf.org
800-533-CURE (-2873)

This information was developed by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health.

Office of Communications and Public Liaison, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health. NINDS Diabetic Neuropathy Information Page. Available at: https://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/diabetic/diabetic.htm. Last accessed January 10, 2014.

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