Diabetic neuropathy is a type of nerve damage that can occur if you have diabetes. High blood sugar (glucose) can injure nerves throughout your body. Diabetic neuropathy most often damages nerves in your legs and feet.

Depending on the affected nerves, symptoms of diabetic neuropathy can range from pain and numbness in your legs and feet to problems with your digestive system, urinary tract, blood vessels and heart. Some people have mild symptoms. But for others, diabetic neuropathy can be quite painful and disabling.

Diabetic neuropathy is a common and serious complication of diabetes. But you can often prevent diabetic neuropathy or slow its progress with tight blood sugar control and a healthy lifestyle.

There are four main types of diabetic neuropathy. You can have one or more than one type of neuropathy. Your symptoms will depend on the type you have and which nerves are affected. Usually, symptoms develop gradually. You may not notice anything wrong until considerable nerve damage has occurred.

Peripheral neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy is the most common type of diabetic neuropathy. It affects the feet and legs first, followed by the hands and arms. Signs and symptoms of peripheral neuropathy are often worse at night, and may include:

• Numbness to feel pain or temperature changes
• Tingling or burning sensation
• Sharp pains or cramps
• Increased sensitivity to touch
• Muscle weakness
• Loss of reflexes, especially in the ankle
• Loss of balance and coordination
• Serious ulcers, infections in the foot and bone and joint pain

Autonomic neuropathy

The autonomic nervous system controls your heart, bladder, stomach, intestines, sex organs and eyes. Diabetes can affect nerves in any of these areas, possibly causing:

• A lack of awareness when going into hypoglycemia
• Urinary tract infections or urinary retention or incontinence
• Constipation, uncontrolled diarrhea or both
• Stomuch bloating, vomitting and loss of appetite
• Difficulty swallowing
• Increased or decreased sweating
• Problems controlling body temperature
• Changes in the way your eyes adjust from light to dark
• Increased heart rate at rest
• Sharp drops in blood pressure after sitting or standing
• Erectile dysfunction
• Vaginal dryness
• Decreased sexual response

Radiculoplexus neuropathy or diabetic amyotrophy

Radiculoplexus neuropathy affects nerves in the thighs, hips, buttocks or legs. It's more common in people with type 2 diabetes and older adults. Other names for this type are diabetic amyotrophy, femoral neuropathy or proximal neuropathy. Symptoms are usually on one side of the body, but sometimes may spread to the other side. You may have:

• Severe pain in a hip and thigh or buttock
• Eventual weak and shrinking thigh muscles
• Difficulty rising from a sitting position
• Abdominal swelling, if the abdomen is affected
• Weight loss .

Most people improve at least partially over time, though symptoms may worsen before they get better

Mononeuropathy

Mononeuropathy, or focal neuropathy, is damage to a specific nerve in the face, middle of the body (torso) or leg. It's most common in older adults. Mononeuropathy often strikes suddenly and can cause severe pain. However, it usually doesn't cause any long-term problems.
Symptoms usually go away without treatment over a few weeks or months. Your specific signs and symptoms depend on which nerve is involved. You may have pain in the:

• Shin or foot
• Lower back or pelvis
• Front of thigh
• Chest or abdomen

Mononeuropathy may also cause nerve problems in the eyes and face, leading to:

• Difficulty focusing
• Double vision
• Aching behind one eye
• Paralysis on one side of your face

Sometimes mononeuropathy occurs when something is pressing on a nerve (nerve compression). Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common type of compression neuropathy in people with diabetes. It can cause numbness or tingling in your hand or fingers, except your pinkie (little finger). Your hand may feel weak, and you may drop things

Diabetic neuropathy can cause a number of serious complications, including:

• Foot sores and cuts may silently become severely infected or turn into ulcers. Removal (amputation) of a toe, foot or even the lower leg may be necessary.
• Joint damage. Prompt treatment can help you heal and prevent further joint damage.
• Urinary tract infections and urinary incontinence.
• Hypoglycemia unawareness.
• Digestive problems like nausea, vomiting and bloating.
• Sexual dysfunction. Men may experience erectile dysfunction. Women may have difficulty with lubrication and arousal.
• Increased or decreased sweating. Some people with autonomic neuropathy have excessive sweating, particularly at night or while eating. Too little or no sweating at all (anhidrosis) can be life-threatening.

Diabetic neuropathy can cause a number of serious complications, including:

The treatment is based on treating the underlying disorder. If diabetes is the cause, making certain that the blood glucose is controlled is important