Sensorimotor neuropathy and autonomic neuropathy from diabetes

Diabetic neuropathy, a common co-morbidity of diabetic sufferers causes altered sensation, muscle weakness, collectively called sensorimotor neuropathy, and loss of autonomic control (autonomic neuropathy). The autonomic nervous system controls blood pressure, sweating, the eyes, the heart, bowel function, bladder function and sexual function. The most common form of diabetic neuropathy is distal symmetric polyneuropathy, which means that primarily the feet are involved with sensations of pain or tingling, poor muscle control, nerve palsies (including Bell's palsy), pressure ulcers and burns and infections, which can lead to gangrene, and Charcot's joints (enlarged joints). The nerve disease can also lead to systemic signs of severe weight loss, anorexia, and depression. Other sensorimotor neuropathies include focal or mononeuropathies, and amyotrophy (affects muscle). Diabetic neuropathy is a common cause of diabetic foot ulcers that can lead to amputation. This can sometimes be the stepping stone to diagnosing type 2 diabetes in some people. Provided rigorous control of blood sugar is maintained and frequent visits to the podiatrist with persistent foot care are undertaken, diabetics can avoid this tragic complication. The risk of diabetic neuropathy is a very real threat to any type 2 diabetic and those type 1 diabetics who have been diagnosed for greater than 5 years. People at risk of diabetes, such as those with a family history, obesity, or pancreas disease, and those already diagnosed with either type 1 or 2 diabetes, require preventative approaches including vigilant evaluation of their blood sugar levels, blood pressure and neurological system. Other risk factors also need addressing, such as smoking cessation, reduction in alcohol intake, exercise, and blood pressure control. Neuropathies can be detected through a clinical examination or electromyography. There is no treatment for diabetic neuropathy, but with strict control of blood sugar levels and HbA1c, diabetics can prevent it from occurring or even slow its progression.

Source: summary of medical news story as reported by American Academy of Physicians

Related Disease Topics:

• Diabetes
• Type 1 diabetes
• Type 2 diabetes
• Diabetic neuropathy
• Sensorimotor neuropathy
• Autonomic neuropathy
• Hypertension
• Distal symmetrical polyneuropathy (type of Neuropathy)
• Nerve palsies
• Bell's palsy
• Pressure ulcers
• Burns
• Infection
• Gangrene
• Charcot's joints
• Anorexia
• Depression
• Focal neuropathy
• Mononeuropathy
• Amyotrophy
• Obesity

Related Symptom Topics:

• Altered sensation
• Pain
• Tingling
• Poor muscle control
• Muscle weakness
• Sweating
• Weight loss
• Anorexia
• Depression

Article Source Details

About: Sensorimotor neuropathy and autonomic neuropathy from diabetes

Date: 1 June 2005

Source: American Academy of Physicians

Author: Ann Aring, David Jones, James Falko

URL: http://www.aafp.org/afp/20050601/2123.html

Related Medical Topics

This summary article refers to the following medical categories:

• Risk and diabetic neuropathy
• Risk and poor blood sugar control
• Risk and HbA1c
• Risk and sensorimotor neuropathy
• Risk and autonomic neuropathy
• Risk and distal symmetric polyneuropathy
• Risk and mononeuropathy
• Risk and focal neuropathy
• Risk and amyotrophy
• Risk and nerve palsies
• Risk and diabetes
• Risk and diabetes type 1
• Risk and diabetes type 2
• Risk and altered sensation
• Risk and muscle weakness
• Risk and ulcers
• Risk and feet
• Risk and foot infection
• Risk and foot ulcers
• Risk and pressure ulcers
• Risk and gangrene
• Risk and amputation
• Risk and Charcot's joints
• Risk and heart disease
• Risk and hypertension
• Risk and hypotension
• Risk and bowel dysfunction
• Risk and bladder dysfunction
• Risk and sexual dysfunction
• Risk and erectile dysfunction
• Risk and smoking
• Risk and obesity
• Risk and family history of diabetes
• Risk and alcohol
• Risk and exercise
• Diagnosis and diabetic neuropathy
• Diagnosis and poor blood sugar control
• Diagnosis and HbA1c
• Diagnosis and sensorimotor neuropathy
• Diagnosis and autonomic neuropathy
• Diagnosis and distal symmetric polyneuropathy
• Diagnosis and mononeuropathy
• Diagnosis and focal neuropathy
• Diagnosis and amyotrophy
• Diagnosis and nerve palsies
• Diagnosis and diabetes
• Diagnosis and diabetes type 1
• Diagnosis and diabetes type 2
• Diagnosis and altered sensation
• Diagnosis and muscle weakness
• Diagnosis and ulcers
• Diagnosis and feet
• Diagnosis and foot infection
• Diagnosis and foot ulcers
• Diagnosis and pressure ulcers
• Diagnosis and gangrene
• Diagnosis and amputation
• Diagnosis and Charcot's joints
• Diagnosis and heart disease
• Diagnosis and hypertension
• Diagnosis and hypotension
• Diagnosis and bowel dysfunction
• Diagnosis and bladder dysfunction
• Diagnosis and sexual dysfunction
• Diagnosis and erectile dysfunction
• Diagnosis and smoking
• Diagnosis and obesity
• Diagnosis and family history of diabetes
• Diagnosis and alcohol
• Diagnosis and exercise
• Diagnosed and diabetic neuropathy
• Diagnosed and poor blood sugar control
• Diagnosed and HbA1c
• Diagnosed and sensorimotor neuropathy
• Diagnosed and autonomic neuropathy
• Diagnosed and distal symmetric polyneuropathy
• Diagnosed and mononeuropathy
• Diagnosed and focal neuropathy
• Diagnosed and amyotrophy
• Diagnosed and nerve palsies
• Diagnosed and diabetes
• Diagnosed and diabetes type 1
• Diagnosed and diabetes type 2
• Diagnosed and altered sensation
• Diagnosed and muscle weakness
• Diagnosed and ulcers
• Diagnosed and feet
• Diagnosed and foot infection
• Diagnosed and foot ulcers
• Diagnosed and pressure ulcers
• Diagnosed and gangrene
• Diagnosed and amputation
• Diagnosed and Charcot's joints
• Diagnosed and heart disease
• Diagnosed and hypertension
• Diagnosed and hypotension
• Diagnosed and bowel dysfunction
• Diagnosed and bladder dysfunction
• Diagnosed and sexual dysfunction
• Diagnosed and erectile dysfunction
• Diagnosed and smoking
• Diagnosed and obesity
• Diagnosed and family history of diabetes
• Diagnosed and alcohol
• Diagnosed and exercise
• Undiagnosed and sensorimotor neuropathy
• Undiagnosed and peripheral neuropathy
• Undiagnosed and type 2 diabetes
• Undiagnosed and distal symmetric polyneuropathy
• Undiagnosed and mononeuropathy
• Undiagnosed and amyotrophy
• Medication and diabetes
• Medication and type 1 diabetes
• Medication and type 2 diabetes
• Medication and hypertension

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