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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staff
Damage to nerves and blood vessels
Prolonged exposure to high blood sugar (glucose) can damage delicate nerve fibers, causing diabetic neuropathy. Exactly why this happens isn't completely clear, but a combination of factors likely plays a role, including the complex interaction between nerves and blood vessels. High blood glucose interferes with the ability of the nerves to transmit signals. It also weakens the walls of the small blood vessels (capillaries) that supply the nerves with oxygen and nutrients.
Other factors
Other factors that may contribute to diabetic neuropathy include:
- Inflammation in the nerves caused by an autoimmune response. This occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks part of your body as if it were a foreign organism.
- Genetic factors unrelated to diabetes that make some people more susceptible to nerve damage.
- Smoking and alcohol abuse, which damage both nerves and blood vessels and significantly increase the risk of infections.
- Diabetic neuropathies: The nerve damage of diabetes. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/neuropathies/neuropathies.pdf. Accessed Nov. 19, 2009.
- Feldman EL, et al. Treatment of diabetic neuropathy. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 19, 2009.
- Aring AM, et al. Evaluation and prevention of diabetic neuropathy. American Family Physician. 2005;71:2123.
- Chaudhry V. Peripheral neuropathy. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2907120. Accessed Nov. 19, 2009.
- Tesfaye S. Advances in the management of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care. 2009;3:136.
- Standards of medical care in diabetes, 2009. American Diabetes Association. Diabetes Care. 2009;32(suppl):13.
- Masharani U, et al. Pancreatic hormones and diabetes mellitus. In: Gardner DG, et al. Greenspan's Basic and Clinical Endocrinology. 8th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw Hill Medical; 2007. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2633151. Accessed Nov. 19, 2009.
- Veves A. Painful diabetic neuropathy: Epidemiology, natural history, early diagnosis, and treatment options. Pain Medicine. 2008;9:660.
- Diabetic neuropathies. American Diabetes Association. Diabetes Care. 2005;28:956.
- Robertson CB (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 10, 2009.
