Causes, incidence and types of diabetic neuropathy.
Diabetic neuropathy is a serious medical condition and it occurs as a  common complication of diabetes mellitus. In diabetic neuropathy, nerves get progressively damaged as a result of prolonged periods of hyperglycemia which is a high blood sugar level state.
People may experience disorders of nervous system at any stage of diabetes. The duration of the disease and the
effectiveness of treatment of diabetes can determine the likelihood for neuropathy to occur. As it is apparent, long term diabetics with poor blood glucose control are at far higher risk to develop diabetic neuropathy than others. Neuropathy is more often diagnosed in patients who have been suffering from diabetes for at least twenty years.
In diabetic neuropathy, the damage of the nervous tissue can be temporary or permanent. The condition itself can be chronic or recurrent.
Diabetic neuropathy is very common amongst people suffering from diabetes. According to statistics, 50% of diabetics develop some type of neuropathy which occasionally may be present without symptoms.
Diabetic neuropathy is responsible for the occurrence of foot ulcers, gangrene and potential amputation. In fact, the condition is involved in 50-75% of non-traumatic amputations in developed countries. What is more, neuropathy is the most common complication and the main cause of mortality in patients suffering from diabetes.
Additional causes or risk factors for diabetic neuropathy.
There is a wide range of potential causes for diabetic neuropathy. Of course diabetes is the prime cause but the precise mechanism, which makes the excessive glucose in the blood stream to affect nerves, is still under investigation. However, there is a speculation that micro vascular damages may affect small vessels and prevent the nerves to get adequate supply of oxygen and necessary nutrients.
Below are presented a number of additional causative factors. If any of them coexists with diabetes, it may result in neuropathy.
 Autoimmune reaction. For reasons that have not been identified yet, antibodies, which are defending factors of our immune system, can attack the neurons and cause aseptic inflammation and malfunction.
Other health problems. Increased levels of bad cholesterol, high blood pressure and elevated triglyceride levels, existing for a long period of time, are important risk factors for diabetic neuropathy.
Age. The condition is more common among people being older than forty five.
Physical condition. Overweight and obese people have 60-70% more chances than other diabetics to develop neuropathy at some stage of their life.
Mechanical injury to nerves, such as carpal tunnel syndrome or an accidental incident may help in occurrence of diabetic neuropathy.
Lifestyle. Researchers have come to the conclusion that habits, like regular fast food eating, smoking and especially heavy drinking increase the chances for a person to develop diabetic neuropathy.
Hereditary background appears to be important, since in many cases, neuropathy seems to run in families.
Types of diabetic neuropathy.
Diabetic neuropathies are identified as autonomic, peripheral, focal and proximal, depending on the pathological results and the affected parts of the body.
The most common type is peripheral neuropathy which is also described as distal symmetric neuropathy. Peripheral diabetic neuropathy typically affects the limbs, resulting in pain or total absence of sensation.
Autonomic neuropathy occurs due to malfunction of the nerves that sustain the involuntary function of organs and systems. These can be the urinary, cardiovascular, reproductive digestive or any other system innervated by the autonomic nervous system. Vital bodily functions, like secretion of hormones, perspiration, digestion and control of blood pressure can be can be affected by autonomic diabetic neuropathy. Sight problems can occur, due to this type of neuropathy, as well.
Autonomic neuropathy is also responsible for sight problems and unawareness of hypoglycemia in people suffering from diabetes for more than twenty years’ period of time.
Proximal neuropathy affects  the hips, thighs or buttocks and results in instability due to muscular weakness in lower limbs.
Focal neuropathy is usually present in a single nerve. In less common cases, the problem may cause malfunction to a group of nerves. Eyes, face, chest, torso, abdomen, wrist, thigh and lower limb are the most commonly affected areas. Pain and muscular weakness are the typical symptoms of focal diabetic neuropathy.
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