Do you have high blood sugar levels? Do you experience numbness or tingling sensation in your nerves? You might be showing signs of diabetic neuropathy. When left untreated, it can lead to loss of limb, sexual dysfunction etc. Keep reading to know its symptoms…
When diabetes harms the nerves, the person is said to have diabetic neuropathy. It happens due to high blood sugar levels.
There are four types of diabetic neuropathy depending on the place it affects.
-
Peripheral neuropathy:
This is the most general form of diabetic neuropathy. Initially it affects the feet and legs; eventually hands and arms will be affected.
Symptoms are:
- Numbness
- Tingling or burning sensation
- Cramps
- Muscle weakness
- Pain
- Increased sensitivity to touch
- Loss of reflexes
- Not maintaining balance and coordination
- Pain in bones and joints, ulcers, infections etc.
-
Autonomic neuropathy:
When diabetes affects the heart, bladder, lungs, stomach, intestines, sex organs or eyes, the person is meant to be having diabetic neuropathy.
Symptoms are:
- Abnormal sweating
- Problems with body temperature
- Increased heart rate without any physical activity
- Blacking out when you stand up
- Urinary tract infections
- Uncontrolled leakage of urine
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Bloating
- Loss of appetite
- Difficulty in swallowing
- Low blood pressure
- Trouble in emptying the bladder
- Frequent urination at nights
In men, autonomic neuropathy causes:
- Erectile dysfunction
- Dry or reduced ejaculation
In women, it leads to:
- Reduced vaginal lubrication
- Less or no orgasms
-
Radiculoplexus neuropathy:
Also called as diabetic amyotrophy, it affects the nerves in thighs, hips, buttocks and legs. It is most commonly experienced by old people having type-2 diabetes.
Symptoms are:
- Sudden severe pain in hip, thigh or buttock
- Weak thigh muscles
- Difficulty in rising from sitting position
- Swelling in the abdomen
- Unexpected weight loss
-
Mononeuropathy:
As the name suggests, in mononeuropathy a single nerve gets affected. Generally found in old people, it can affect any nerve in face, torso or leg.
Symptoms are:
- Double vision
- Pain in the eyes
- Paralysis on one side of the face
- Pain in the lower back or legs
- Pain in chest or abdomen
In some cases, mononeuropathy takes place due to the compression of a nerve. A compression of the median nerve of the hand leads to carpal tunnel syndrome, whose symptoms are:
- Numbness and tingling sensation in hand
- Pain and weakness in the muscles
If you experience any of the above symptoms, consult a diabetologist online at eVaidya now!
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