Neuropathy in general is a disease which is characterized by the damage of different nerves of the body, causing adverse effects on the mobility and functioning of these organs or parts. Diabetic neuropathy is the condition seen in diabetics where the nerve damage is caused due to uncontrolled levels of blood glucose. Generally, adverse effects of diabetic neuropathy are seen in the legs and feet of the patient. In worst conditions, this leads to disability or may even prove to be a life risk.

Depending upon the different parts of the body that diabetic neuropathy affects, it is split into types like:

- Peripheral Neuropathy: A type of diabetic neuropathy which causes concerning issues with hands, arms, toes, feet and legs. These issues might include numbness, tingling, pain, and, in worst cases immobility of these limbs.

- Focal Neuropathy: This is a type of neuropathy where any nerve or any body part is damaged. A group of nerves might also be affected. It includes nerves right from the face, that is the facial nerves, (including the sensory organs like ears, eyes, nose, throat, tongue, etc.), and other organs and body parts like, chest, back, abdomen, legs, etc.

- Proximal Neuropathy: In this type of neuropathy, functioning of the legs is affected, but this is not exactly due to nerve damage in the legs. This is caused due to nerve damage in the proximate areas of the legs, that is, the thighs and hips, causing weakness in the legs, hence known as “proximal” neuropathy.

- Autonomic neuropathy: This type of neuropathy affects nerves that are involved in the functioning of internal organs like heart, lungs, digestive tract, bladder, etc. It might also cause problems with vision, regulating the blood pressure and blood glucose levels.



Causes:

The most dominant cause of diabetic neuropathy is uncontrolled blood sugar levels and a prolonged condition of diabetes. Diabetic neuropathy also generally involves nerve damage through different ways like autoimmune triggers, physical injury to nerves, and damage to the blood vessels carrying nutrition to the nerves (causing indirect damage to the nerves).



Symptoms:

The general symptoms, as discussed under the types of diabetic neuropathy distinctively, are as follows (collectively).

- Tingling and numbness of limbs.

- Digestive problems,

- Vision problems,

- Bladder problems,

- Dizziness,

- Nausea,

- Weakness,

- Pain.



Treatment / Self-Help:

- The self care treatment for a diabetic neuropathy condition involves effective management of symptoms, but more than that or anything else, controlled blood sugar levels matter the most. You have to determine the best range of blood glucose levels for yourself with the help of your doctor.

- Pain – which is an associated symptom – should be managed by a regular exercise regime.

- Other symptoms like nausea, digestive tract abnormalities, bladder dysfunction etc. can be managed by a healthy diet apt for diabetics. Apart from that, small meals with small and regular intervals prove to be helpful for diabetics.

Diabetic neuropathy is a long term complication of diabetes which is best sorted by handling your diabetes effectively in the first place.