Diabetic neuropathy is an injury that can result in a long list of medical problems. So it's only appropriate that scientists have come up with a number of theories about how diabetes damages nerves. In fact, most experts agree that diabetic neuropathy is likely the result of several different biological changes that occur simultaneously.

That said, there is little doubt that chronically elevated glucose levels are bad for your nerves. Unlike your muscles, organs, and fat, the nerves don't need insulin to absorb glucose. So if blood sugar rises, nerves become saturated with the sweet stuff. Enzymes process the excess sugar, converting it to the compounds sorbitol and fructose, resulting in diminished levels of other important chemicals.

High levels of glucose can contribute to the break down of a nerve's structure. See more diabetic neuropathy pictures.

As the protective myelin sheath erodes and the nerve's structure breaks down, signals traveling along the axons can go haywire. Some will be delayed, as if your brain suddenly reverted from broadband Internet access to dial-up. Other nerve signals may be blocked altogether.

Other culprits that may play a role in diabetic nerve damage include:

• Clogged arteries. Nerves need a fresh supply of blood to survive, and diabetes increases the risk of atherosclerosis, or narrowing of blood vessels.
  
  
• AGEs. Advanced glycosylation end products, or AGEs, are nasty compounds the body produces when blood sugar is high. AGEs damage axons and promote the creation of free radicals, molecules that harm healthy cells.
  
  
• Low levels of nerve growth factor and insulin. Nerve growth factor (NGF) is necessary for healthy nerves; animals with very low levels of NGF tend to have severe diabetic neuropathy. Insulin, the vital hormone that people with type 1 diabetes lack, appears to promote healthy nerves, too.
  
  
• Inflammation. According to one theory, diabetic neuropathy may occur because the body's immune system launches a misguided attack on the nerves.

Diabetic neuropathy can produce symptoms and functional problems in just about any part of the body. Often, the early signs are merely annoying. The first clues that doctors look for are tingling or numbness in the feet, legs, arms, or hands.

As nerve damage worsens, though, neuropathy can foul up the brain's signaling to muscles and organs in ways that cause debilitating pain, which may eventually deteriorate to loss of sensation in that part of the body. Neuropathy not only creates new medical problems, it also worsens existing conditions. It can even spoil your sex life.

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 nerves in the feet can lead to one of the most common complications of diabetes -- foot sores and other foot problems. Find out more on our Diabetes and Foot 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.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Timothy Gower is a freelance writer and the author of several books. His work has appeared in many magazines and newspapers, including Prevention, Health, Reader's Digest, Better Homes and Gardens, Men's Health, Esquire, Fortune, The New York Times, and The Los Angeles Times.

ABOUT THE CONSULTANTS:

Dana Armstrong, R.D., C.D.E., received her degree in nutrition and dietetics from the University of California, Davis, and completed her dietetic internship at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. In private practice for 21 years, she has developed educational programs that have benefited more than 5,000 patients with diabetes. She is the cofounder and program director of the Diabetes Care Center in Salinas, California..

Allen Bennett King, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.A.C.E., C.D.E., received his degrees and training at the University of California, Berkeley; Creighton University Medical School; the University of Colorado Medical Center; and Stanford University Medical Center. He is the author of more than 50 papers in medical science and speaks nationally on new advances in diabetes.

This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.