Neuropathy and Diabetes

Controlling your blood glucose can decrease your risks

About 60 percent to 70 percent of people with diabetes develop some form of nerve damage (neuropathy), though they may experience no symptoms. Neuropathy typically develops slowly. The best way to prevent this condition is to maintain good control of blood glucose, which can decrease the risk of neuropathy by 60 percent.

Diabetes can cause three types of neuropathy: peripheral neuropathy, mononeuropathy and autonomic neuropathy. Most common is peripheral neuropathy, a slow, progressive loss of function of the sensory nerves in the limbs that causes numbness, tingling and pain in the legs and hands on both sides of the body.

Mononeuropathy, which results from disruption of the blood supply to one or more nerves, leads to the sudden onset of pain or weakness in the area of the body served by the affected nerve.

Autonomic neuropathy damages nerves to the digestive tract, bladder, heart and other internal organs.
Nerve damage from peripheral or autonomic neuropathy is irreversible, but mononeuropathies usually resolve within six months.

©(2005-2011), Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Health System Corporation. All rights reserved. All information presented here is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues and consult your physician before starting a new fitness regimen. Use of this information is subject to this disclaimer and the terms and conditions of this website. Johns Hopkins abides by the terms of the HONcode principles of the Health On the Net Foundation.

The information presented here is compiled by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine with editorial supervision by one or more members of the faculty of the School of Medicine pursuant to a license agreement with LifeScan under which the School of Medicine and faculty editors receive payment for services rendered within the scope of the license agreement.