I Have Diabetes — Is Nerve Damage Inevitable?

More than 37 million adults in the United States have diabetes, and another 96 million are considered prediabetic. What all of these people have in common is they have a greater risk for nerve damage.

While not everyone who has diabetes develops nerve damage, 60% do, which means it’s a complication you should monitor very closely.

In this month’s blog post, Dr. Sachida Manocha takes a closer look at the link between diabetes and nerve damage. More specifically, he’s going to discuss a type of nerve damage called peripheral neuropathy, which is a condition we routinely treat here at Interventional Pain Center.

Why the nerve damage?

When you have diabetes, the levels of glucose in your blood are often too high. The extra sugar in your blood can damage blood vessels, especially the smaller ones that service your nerves.

As a result, your nerves can malfunction, and the messaging between your nerves and your brain can be disrupted.

This damage often occurs in the peripheral nerves, such as those in your hands, lower legs, and feet. 

Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy

When nerves in your feet or hands are damaged by high blood sugar levels, you can be left with sensory symptoms, including:

• Pain, which is often described as shooting or burning
• Numbness
• Tingling
• Loss of balance
• Weakness

The loss of balance and weakness can lead to an overall clumsiness that can place you at far greater risks for trips and falls.

Another side effect of this nerve damage can be ulcers that don’t heal. Thanks to the numbness, you may not register a small cut or scrape in your foot or lower leg. And, since diabetes can result in poor circulation in the extremities, a small wound may not have sufficient access to healing resources, which could allow an infection to take hold. Because of this, a small cut or scrape could turn into a serious problem if it’s not detected and treated.

Can nerve damage be prevented?

The most important step you can take if you have diabetes is to manage your blood sugar levels. If you stay on top of your glucose levels, you can prevent or slow damage to the blood vessels that lead to your nerves.

If you’ve developed peripheral neuropathy already and are experiencing discomfort, our team can step in to help you find relief. From medications to peripheral nerve stimulation, we can find the right solution for your nerve pain.

If you want to learn more about preventing or managing nerve damage due to diabetes, please book an appointment online or over the phone with the Interventional Pain Center today. We have offices in Worthington and Newark, Ohio.