Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypes and CausesGeneticsCardiovascularLifestyle and Risk FactorsFrequently Asked QuestionsNext in Diabetic Neuropathy GuideTreatment of Diabetic Neuropathy
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types and Causes
Genetics
Cardiovascular
Lifestyle and Risk Factors
Frequently Asked Questions
Next in Diabetic Neuropathy Guide
This article describes the risk factors, types, and causes of diabetic neuropathy.
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Common Types and Causes
Diabetic neuropathy affects theperipheral nervous systemand includes four types of nerve damage. They can begin at different times—and some people with diabetes might experience a few effects of diabetic neuropathy rather than all of them.
These include:
Diabetic neuropathy affects sensory nerves and motor nerves, causing pain, loss of sensation, and muscle weakness.
The Autonomic Nervous System Is Part of the Peripheral Nervous System
How Nerve Damage Happens
Neuropathy in diabetes occurs due to bothdemyelinationand axonal injury.Demyelination is damage to the protective fat layer (myelin) surrounding the nerves. Axonal injury is the destruction of the nerve itself.
Several factors are associated with diabetic neuropathy:
Research shows that long-term metabolic changes of diabetes can affect how certain genes are expressed. With these changes, some proteins needed to maintain healthy nerves are no longer produced. This change in gene expression has been associated with diabetic neuropathy.
Researchers are looking at potential ways to use this information to develop treatments that could slow down the progression of diabetic neuropathy.
Diabetes causes vascular changes in small blood vessels throughout the body. This causes a decrease in blood supply to structures like the nerves, eyes, and kidneys.
Low blood supply means that these tissues don’t get the oxygen and nutrients that they need. This eventually leads to cell and tissue degeneration, including the type of nerve degeneration that contributes to diabetic neuropathy.
ComplicationsCardiovascular complications of diabetes includeheart disease, high blood pressure, peripheral vascular disease, and autonomic changes.
Complications
Cardiovascular complications of diabetes includeheart disease, high blood pressure, peripheral vascular disease, and autonomic changes.
Many lifestyle factors can increase the risk of diabetic neuropathy. Uncontrolled diabetes can accelerate the development of diabetic neuropathy.
Lifestyle factors that may cause nerve damage, inflammation, or vascular problems can compound the risk of developing neuropathy and experiencing serious nerve damage that adds to the damage of diabetic neuropathy.
Factors that can increase the risk of neuropathy are:
Ways to reduce the risk and severity of diabetic neuropathy include:
Summary
Over time, this condition develops due to diabetes-induced vascular disease, inflammation, and metabolic changes. Some risk factors, including poorly controlled blood sugars, smoking, alcohol, and neurotoxic medication exposure, can compound the risk of developing diabetic neuropathy.
A Word From Verywell
If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, it’s important for you to be familiar with the potential complications.
Anyone who has diabetes can develop diabetic neuropathy, but poorly controlled blood sugars, as well as other factors that can contribute to any type of neuropathy (like alcoholic neuropathy), can increase the likelihood of developing severe effects of diabetic neuropathy.
Talk to your healthcare provider about what you can do to reduce your risk of diabetic neuropathy.
Frequently Asked QuestionsDiabetes leads to metabolic changes, vascular compromise, inflammation, and genetic alterations that all contribute to many complications, including nerve damage.Learn MoreDabetes Type 2 ComplicationsBesides diabetes, other common causes of neuropathy include chronic alcohol use, nutritional deficiency, medication side effects, organ failure, and nerve damage from industrial chemical exposure.Diabetic neuropathy is not a condition that has flare-ups, but the painful symptoms can be more severe when you are dehydrated or while you have another illness, such as an infection.In general, diabetic neuropathy does not cause swelling. Diabetes makes you susceptible to infections, and loss of sensation due to diabetic neuropathy can make you unaware of an infection.Infections may cause swelling of the affected area—this can be a sign that an infection is progressing to a dangerous degree.
Diabetes leads to metabolic changes, vascular compromise, inflammation, and genetic alterations that all contribute to many complications, including nerve damage.Learn MoreDabetes Type 2 Complications
Diabetes leads to metabolic changes, vascular compromise, inflammation, and genetic alterations that all contribute to many complications, including nerve damage.
Learn MoreDabetes Type 2 Complications
Besides diabetes, other common causes of neuropathy include chronic alcohol use, nutritional deficiency, medication side effects, organ failure, and nerve damage from industrial chemical exposure.
Diabetic neuropathy is not a condition that has flare-ups, but the painful symptoms can be more severe when you are dehydrated or while you have another illness, such as an infection.
In general, diabetic neuropathy does not cause swelling. Diabetes makes you susceptible to infections, and loss of sensation due to diabetic neuropathy can make you unaware of an infection.Infections may cause swelling of the affected area—this can be a sign that an infection is progressing to a dangerous degree.
In general, diabetic neuropathy does not cause swelling. Diabetes makes you susceptible to infections, and loss of sensation due to diabetic neuropathy can make you unaware of an infection.
Infections may cause swelling of the affected area—this can be a sign that an infection is progressing to a dangerous degree.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Pathak R, Sachan N, Chandra P.Mechanistic approach towards diabetic neuropathy screening techniques and future challenges: A review.Biomed Pharmacother. 2022;150:113025. doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113025
Hall BE, Macdonald E, Cassidy M, et al.Transcriptomic analysis of human sensory neurons in painful diabetic neuropathy reveals inflammation and neuronal loss.Sci Rep.2022;12(1):4729. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-08100-8
Hansen CS, Suvitaival T, Theilade S, et al.Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy in type 1 diabetes Is associated with disturbances in TCA, lipid, and glucose metabolism.Front Endocrinol (Lausanne).2022;13:831793. doi:10.3389/fendo.2022.831793
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