One of the side effects of diabetes is neuropathy, a nerve condition that causes tingling, pain, or numbness. Diabetic neuropathy most commonly affects the feet and legs, and it can lead to greater risks of infection, as when the feet are numb, patients might not feel a cut or wound, and thus will not clean or treat it properly.
In this article, our team at Complete Rehab will go over the symptoms of the different sub-types of diabetic neuropathy to help you recognize when you should see a doctor.
- Focal Neuropathy – Focal diabetic neuropathy affects just one nerve at a time. Because of this, the symptoms can vary greatly depending on which nerve is affected, with some causing more serious symptoms than others. For example, if a nerve in your leg is affected, you might experience pain, numbness, or tingling in your thigh, but if your optical nerve is affected, then you might start to have vision problems, such as blurred sight or inability to focus.
- Polyneuropathy – When diabetic neuropathy affects multiple nerves, it is called polyneuropathy. This type of neuropathy typically affects the feet or hands, the places where the nerves stretch the farthest from the spinal cord. Symptoms include tingling, burning, or numbness in these areas. Alternatively, you might experience sharp pains in your feet or become very sensitive to touch there.
- Autonomic Neuropathy – A third type of diabetic neuropathy affects the autonomic nerves, which control your internal organs and their unconscious processes. If you have this kind of neuropathy, you may experience symptoms such as persistent nausea, diarrhea or constipation, low blood pressure, and similar issues.