Diabetic neuropathy is a type of nerve damage associated with diabetes. It often occurs with untreated or unmanaged diabetes when high blood sugar (or glucose) leads to nerve damage throughout your body, but most often injures nerves in your legs and feet. Diabetic neuropathy or peripheral neuropathy is essentially nerve damage that is caused by the disease when sugar levels remain high for extended periods of time.

There are many symptoms that can accompany this condition, including:

1. Tingling or burning
One of the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy is tingling and burning in the extremities. Neuropathy can create a feeling of pins or needles. This happens when the nerves that are used to carry sensations to the body are negatively affected. That damage to the nerves causes distortions for body parts such as the fingers and toes. This tingling feeling may progress into pain at some point.

2. Numbness
Probably the most common symptom of diabetic neuropathy is numbness. When nerve damage goes to this level, it needs to be taken very seriously. When this numb feeling occurs, it can potentially lead to either ulcers on the feet or possible amputation of limbs. Being very aware of your health and your sugar intake is extremely important in order to keep this from potentially happening.

3. Sharp pain or cramping in the legs and feet
The symptoms that happen with diabetic neuropathy are directly related to the nerves that are being affected. When motor nerves are damaged, they can cause weakness in the muscles. This can then lead to both cramping and pain. This cramping goes along with the twitching of the muscles under the skin. The weakness in the muscles can have a direct impact on both future mobility and balance.

4. Increased sensitivity to touch
Sensitivity is also caused by damage to the nerves. It can vary greatly in intensity. Some people have a mild case, and some are so sensitive that it can be difficult to even wear clothes without discomfort.

5. Foot issues
Diabetic neuropathy is known to cause issues with the feet. Because of the tingling, pain, numb feeling, and sensitivity that can happen in the feet, it is extremely important to keep a close eye on foot health. When there are issues in the feet, there can also be a loss of balance and mobility if symptoms get severe enough. People may not be able to even feel if they have an injury in this area, and left untreated, open sores or ulcers can develop. This can also potentially lead to amputation.

Diabetes is a terrible disease, however, it can be controlled. This is very important to those that have been diagnosed because watching blood sugar levels can keep diabetic neuropathy in check. There are so many symptoms of diabetic neuropathy. That is why it is so important to take the steps necessary to keep your body as healthy as possible.