Diabetes Complication: Types of Neuropathy

One of diabetes complications is neuropathy. Diabetes neuropathy happens when the creeping of diabetes in the body’s systems causes damage to the patient’s nerves. Neuropathy comes in many types depending on what nerves are affected and what causes them.

Peripheral neuropathy

One of the diabetes complications is peripheral or sensorimotor neuropathy, the most common type of diabetic neuropathy is a condition wherein the problems of the nerve affect those outside the spinal cord and brain. These nerves compose the peripheral nervous system. Peripheral neuropathy is a neuropathy or nerve damage happening in the nerves of the extremities – feet, toes, legs, fingers, arms and hands. Some causes of peripheral neuropathy aside from diabetes are injury, toxins and infections.

Nutritionists and scientists confirmed that peripheral neuropathy is directly caused by a lack of vitamin B12.

Hereditary Neuropathy

When a nerve damage happens because of a genetically-transmitted nerve disorder usually in the hands and below the knees, then that is what you call hereditary neuropathy. Another diabetes complication, it is also known as sensory neuropathy.

Idiopathic Neuropathy

When doctors cannot pinpoint a specific cause to neuropathy, it is called “idiopathic”. This neuropathy usually affects the seniors or those who are 60 years or older. The development of this neuropathy is slow but bothersome.


Toxin-Related Neuropathy

Certain peripheral neuropathies result from exposure to toxins and chemicals (such as mercury, lead, thallium, organic insecticides, mercury and solvents). Intentional exposure, like that of drug or chemical abuse, often leads to peripheral neuropathy.

Drug-Related Neuropathy

Some medications such as HIV, AIDS or chemotherapy have peripheral neuropathy as a side effect. Thus, to stop the neuropathy, the medication should also be stopped.

Compression Neuropathy

When nerves become constrained or compacted, that is compression neuropathy. Not a direct diabetes complication, this neuropathy can be a result of inflammation or trauma such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

Nutritional/Vitamin Deficiency Neuropathy

A neuropathy caused by malnutrition, alcoholism, reduced absorptive surface and neuropathy-inducing vitamins.

Autonomic Neuropathy

Autonomic neuropathy damages the genitals, bladder and stomach where bladder can be paralyzed. Diabetics cannot feel that they are full and have the tendency to keep the urine in the body longer. Such results to urinary tract infections.

Radiculoplexus Neuropathy
Radiculoplexus neuropathy affects the nerves near the shoulders and hips. It is also called proximal or amyotrophy neuropathy.

Other types of neuropathy are cranial neuropathy (affects one of the brain’s 12 cranial nerves), focal (restricted to one nerve group), distal symmetric polyneuropathy (caused by poor glucose control), mononeuropathy (affects a single nerve usually caused by injury) and mononeuritis multiplex (damage to at least two different nerves resulting to brain disorder.