It can progress rapidly over the course of days or weeks. Diabetic neuropathy can progress at different times depending on the type of damage the person has. It can progress rapidly over days or weeks, or more slowly over many years. About half of people with diabetes have nerve damage. Often, symptoms don't start until many years after a diabetes diagnosis.
Some people who have diabetes that develops slowly already have nerve damage when they are first diagnosed. If you have diabetes, you can have nerve problems at any time. Nerve problems may begin in the first 10 years after being diagnosed with diabetes. The risk increases the longer you have diabetes. About half of people with diabetes have some type of nerve damage.
Some of the tests to detect diabetic neuropathy may include nerve conduction studies and electromyography (EMG). People with diabetes have too much blood sugar because their body can't transport glucose to fat, liver and muscle cells to transform and store it for energy. The good news is that people with any type of diabetes, who maintain good control of blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure, have a lower risk of kidney disease, eye disease, nervous system problems, heart attacks and strokes, and can live long and healthy lives. However, it is more common for a person to have diabetes for several years before developing diabetic neuropathy.
These other nerve problems won't have the same symptoms and will progress differently than nerve damage caused by diabetes. A person may be able to prevent or delay diabetic neuropathy by keeping their blood glucose levels close to ideal limits. Peripheral neuropathy is more likely to be permanent in chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, autoimmune diseases and genetic conditions. Type 2 diabetes is a wake-up call to focus on diet and exercise to try to control blood sugar and prevent problems. Usually, a doctor will diagnose diabetic neuropathy by asking a person a series of questions about their symptoms, drawing up a complete medical history, performing a physical exam, and ordering several tests.
This can cause different types of diabetic neuropathy, such as peripheral, autonomic, focal and proximal neuropathies. Keep reading to learn more about how long it takes for diabetic neuropathy to develop and what symptoms may occur. Diabetic neuropathy describes a type of nerve damage in people with diabetes that affects several nerves in the body. To diagnose diabetic neuropathy, the doctor may perform several tests, such as nerve conduction studies and electromyography.
So what exactly is diabetes and where does it come from? An organ in the body called the pancreas produces insulin, a hormone that controls blood sugar levels. People can take several steps at home to ease the pain and discomfort of diabetic neuropathy, a possible complication of diabetes. Diabetes is on the rise worldwide and is a serious, lifelong condition that can lead to heart disease, stroke and long-lasting nerve, eye and foot problems.
