Nerve Damage - Diabetic neuropathy is damage to nerves in the body that occurs due to high blood sugar levels from diabetes.

Causes, Incidence, & Risk Factors

Nerve injuries are caused by decreased blood flow and high blood sugar levels. They are more likely to develop if blood sugar levels are not well controlled.

About half of people with diabetes will develop nerve damage. Most of the time symptoms do not begin until 10 to 20 years after diabetes has been diagnosed.

Nerve injuries may affect :

Symptoms:

Symptoms often develop slowly over several years. They can vary depending on the nerves that are affected.

People with diabetes may have trouble digesting food. These problems can make your diabetes harder to control. Symptoms of this problem are :

Tingling or burning in the arms and legs may be an early sign of nerve damage. These feelings often start in your toes and feet. You may have deep pain, often in the feet and legs.

Nerve damage may cause you to lose feeling in your arms and legs. Because of this you may :

Damage to nervves in your heart and blood vessels may cause you to :

Other symptoms of nerve damage are :