Autonomic Neuropathy and Sweating

Without sweat glands, we would probably have to pant like dogs (which lack sweat glands) to cool down our bodies on hot days and during exercise. The nervous system controls sweat glands, so when damage strikes nerves in the extremities -- one of the most common complications of diabetes -- the result can be feet that don't sweat.

Eureka! Sounds like a cure for foot odor, right? If only it were that simple. Loss of sweating, or anhidrosis, in the feet leads to severely dry skin, which is just one of the foot-related complications of diabetes (see Diabetes and Foot Problems). What's more, your body makes up for not being able to sweat through the feet by gushing out extra perspiration in other parts of the body, often the face and trunk, a phenomenon known as compensatory sweating, or compensatory hyperhidrosis.

Diabetes-induced nerve damage can cause a similar problem, known as gustatory hyperhidrosis. Anyone who has ever eaten in a Mexican restaurant knows that chomping on a habanero or some other type of hot pepper not only scorches your tongue but can make your brow perspire. Neuropathy can make you break out in a sweat when you eat or drink anything, no matter how bland. No one is sure why, but it may be that previously blunted sweat glands are reawakened by certain food ingredients, though no single dish is known to have the effect consistently in people who have this peculiar condition. For some reason, the glands overcompensate, glistening the skin on the face, neck, and scalp with sweat.

Autonomic neuropathy can cause gustatory hyperhidrosis, which causes you to sweat whenever you eat or drink.

One study of 196 diabetes patients found that roughly one-third who had neuropathy suffered from gustatory hyperhidrosis (the condition is also linked to kidney damage). While any kind of excess sweating can be a social nightmare, gustatory hyperhidrosis worries doctors, since it may disrupt a normal, healthy eating plan, which in turn could cause fluctuations in blood sugar and produce bouts of hypoglycemia.

Urinary problems can also arise from autonomic neuropathy. Learn about some of the symptoms on the next page.

For more information on diabetes and its related conditions, try the following links:  

• Diabetic Neuropathy is a complex injury that should not be left undiagnosed. Learn more about it in this informative article.
• Damage to the eyes is a common complication associated with diabetes. Find out more on our Diabetes and Eye Problems page.  
• Diabetes Symptoms covers the diverse signs of the disease, from increased thirst and hunger to sudden weight loss.  
• To learn more about diabetes in general, including diagnosis, causes, symptoms, and treatment, visit our main Diabetes page.