Common Symptoms Of Diabetic Neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy causes damage to the nerves, especially in the limbs. While the symptoms depend on the type of nerves that are damaged, most symptoms range from pain and numbness in limbs to other generalized and localized issues.

As many as 50% of people with diabetes suffer from different forms of diabetic neuropathy. Therefore, it becomes vital to know what common symptoms to watch out for to seek appropriate treatment.

Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy is the most common diabetic neuropathy that affects the lower half of the body first, followed by the arms.

Some of the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy include:

Sensations of numbness in one of more limbs.
The person is less able to identify changes in temperature.
Sharp pains in legs and severe abdominal cramps.
Tingling and burning sensation on the skin; sometimes, even something as light as a feather could feel painful on the skin.
Frequent ulcers, infections, and pain in joints.

Autonomic Neuropathy

The autonomic nervous system controls different involuntary body functions. Any damage to these nerves may lead to signs and symptoms in the heart, bladder, sex organs, and vision.

Signs of autonomic neuropathy include:

Irregular bladder and bowel movements.
Slow emptying of bowels that is accompanied by cramps, loss of appetite, vomiting, and nausea.
Decreased ability of the eyes to adjust to changes in light.
Sexual dysfunction, including erectile dysfunction and loss of sexual desire.

Proximal Neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy that causes proximal neuropathy affects one part of the body, which could transfer to the other half too. Most of the proximal neuropathy’s symptoms become more evident in the lower half of the body. For instance:

Sharp pain in the hips, thighs, or buttocks.
Reduced strength in the legs.
Pain in the abdominal muscles.

Focal Neuropathy

Focal neuropathy causes damage to specific nerves, which manifests in symptoms like:

Worsening vision and focus.
Half-face paralysis (Bell’s palsy).
Reduced strength in hands.
Numbness in fingers.

At Lakeshore Pain and Spine Center, we work with patients suffering from systemic conditions like diabetic neuropathy to develop treatment plans to help ease pain and improve their quality of life.

Whether you’re dealing with neuropathy or other pain conditions, call us at 262-484-4035 or request an appointment online.