Understanding Diabetic Nerve Pain: Symptoms & Causes

Diabetics have a hard time regulating the amount of sugar in their blood. Poorly controlled diabetes leads to excess blood sugar (glucose), which can damage many parts of the body, including the skin, organs, other types of tissues and nerves. Diabetic neuropathy, which is nerve damage resulting from diabetes, is one of the most common complications. While peripheral neuropathy (hands, feet, legs and toes) accounts for most diabetic neuropathies, damage can also occur to nerves that control bodily processes (autonomic) and other parts of the body, such as the buttocks, hips and thighs.

Sensory Symptoms

• Diabetic neuropathy can result in a number of unpleasant physical sensations in various parts of the body, including numbness, tingling, pain, weakness, electric-shock-like feelings, muscle wasting and an inability to feel the extremity.

Autonomic Symptoms

• Common systems of autonomic neuropathy include indigestion, nausea, vomiting, bowel and bladder problems, lack of or excessive sweating, sexual dysfunction such as inability to achieve an erection, vaginal dryness, inability to reach orgasm and dizziness upon standing.

Motor Symptoms

• Nerve damage can cause a number of problems with various types of movement. A person with diabetic neuropathy might have trouble opening jars, turning keys, lifting items and performing tasks that require fine hand coordination. Foot and leg problems include dragging feet while walking, trouble climbing stairs, balance issues, weakness in the knees and frequent tripping.