Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)
What is neuropathy?
Your nerves connect parts of your body to your brain. Diabetes can
cause damage to the nerves. This is called neuropathy. The
nerves to the feet and legs are most often damages. The nerves to the
hands can be affected too. It is not all the way clear why this
happens, but it is related to high blood sugar.
How does neuropathy feel?
When the nerves are damaged by diabetes they may become less sensitive
and feel numb, or more sensitive and feel tingling or painful.
What happens if my nerves are less sensitive?
Less sensitive nerves do not detect feelings of pain, heat or cold as
well. Some people notice a feeling of numbness or heaviness.
If you do not feel pain you can cause injury without knowing it.
For example you might burn your foot with hot water and not feel it.
You might have a stone or something in your shoe and not feel it even if it
rubs a sore on your foot.
What can I do about low sensitivity?
If you loose the feeling in your feet you will need to look for injuries
you might not feel. Wear proper fitting shoes. Have your doctor
check for nerve damage.
What happens if nerves become more sensitive?
There are some signs you might notice. You might feel a burning,
tingling or even numbness. Light pressure from clothes or bed sheets
might cause pain.
What can I do about the pain?
Neuropathy pain can be very strong. Normal pain medications may not
work well. Some special medications are available for neuropathy pain.
Keeping your blood sugar steady can decrease pain and may slow down the
damage.
Can neuropathy damage other nerves?
Neuropathy can damage nerves to the stomach and digestive system causing
diarrhea, heartburn, reflux or constipation. Damage to the nerves to
the bladder can cause it to be hard to urinate. The nerves related to
sexual function can be damaged in men and sometimes in women.
What sexual problem happens most often in men?
Diabetes often causes problems with erection (ED) in men. When this
happens you may still have full desire for sex but not able to get a useful
erection. There are some treatments for this.
What sexual problems do women have from neuropathy?
Women more frequently have more difficulty having a climax or orgasm.
Women may also have problems with dryness in the vagina.