The areas of the body most commonly affected by diabetic peripheral neuropathy are the feet and legs. Nerve damage in the feet can result in a loss of foot sensation, increasing your risk of foot problems. Injuries and sores on the feet may go unrecognized due to lack of sensation.

Causes of Neuropathy

The peripheral nerves relay information from your central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) to muscles and other organs and from your skin, joints, and other organs back to your brain.

Exposure to toxins, such as heavy metals, gold compounds, lead, arsenic, mercury, and organophosphate pesticides.

The peripheral nerves relay information from your central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) to muscles and other organs and from your skin, joints, and other organs back to your brain.

Autoimmune diseases, including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis or Guillain-Barre syndrome.

Multiple system atrophy, a degenerative disorder that leads to loss and malfunction of some portions of the central nervous system.

Alcoholism, a chronic, progressive disease that can lead to nerve damage.

What causes auditory neuropathy?

Although auditory neuropathy is not yet fully understood, scientists believe the condition probably has more than one cause. In some cases, it may involve damage to the inner hair cells--specialized sensory cells in the inner ear that transmit information about sounds through the nervous system to the brain.

Signs and Symptoms

Difficulty walking or moving the arms

Unusual sweating

oss of coordination and balance

Burning, freezing, or electric-like

The most common type of diabetic neuropathy, peripheral polyneuropathy affects nerves that transmit sensation, control muscle movement, and control bodily functions. Typically, symptoms start in the feet and spread up the legs.

If the autonomic nerves are damaged, involuntary functions may be affected. Symptoms that can result from this type of damage include abnormal blood pressure and heart rate, reduced ability to perspire, constipation, bladder dysfunction

Treatments of Neuropathy

Pain relievers. Mild symptoms may be relieved by over-the-counter pain medications. For more severe symptoms, your doctor may recommend prescription painkillers.

Medicines such as pain relievers or creams to relieve pain. Prescription medicines often used to reduce pain from diabetic neuropathy may include medicines that are more commonly used to treat depression.

The peripheral nerves provide communication between the brain and the organs, blood vessels, muscles, and skin.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), which is a type of therapy that attempts to reduce pain by applying brief pulses of electricity to nerve endings in the skin.

Antidepressants. Tricyclic antidepressant medications, such as amitriptyline and nortriptyline (Pamelor), were originally developed to treat depression. However, they have been found to help relieve pain by interfering with chemical processes in your brain and spinal cord that cause you to feel pain.

What Are the Treatments for Peripheral Neuropathy?

Early diagnosis and treatment of peripheral neuropathy is important because the peripheral nerves have a limited capacity to regenerate, and treatment may only stop the progression, not reverse damage that is already present. If you have developed severe impairment, you may need physical therapy to help retain strength and avoid muscle cramping and spasms.