Nerve damage from diabetes isn’t reversible. But you may be able to stop neuropathy from getting worse, or possibly eliminate symptoms as if you’re not living with this complication anymore.

You cannot reverse nerve damage from diabetes because the body cannot naturally repair damaged nerve tissue.

However, you can manage this diabetes complication and stop it from worsening. You may also be able to improve your diabetes management so that you don’t experience any painful symptoms, making it seem like you’ve reversed or cured the nerve damage even though it still exists.

Keeping blood sugars in range is a key method for preventing diabetes complications, including nerve damage that can affect different parts of your body.

Neuropathy refers to any condition that damages nerve cells, which play a critical role in touch, sensation, and movement.

Types of neuropathy affecting your body

Diabetes-related neuropathy is damage to the nerves that’s caused by the condition that affects your blood sugar levels. Over time, high glucose levels in the bloodstream may damage nerves throughout the body.

There are several different types of neuropathies that can develop as a long-term diabetes complication. They include:

  • Peripheral: pain and numbness in the extremities, including arms, hands, legs, feet, and toes
  • Proximal: pain and numbness in the upper legs, specifically the buttocks, thighs, and hips
  • Autonomic: damage to nerves of the autonomic nervous system, which control sexual response, sweating, and urinary and digestive function
  • Focal: sudden loss of function in nerves, causing pain and weakness of the muscles

Nerves have many important functions in the body. That is why diabetes-related neuropathy can affect different parts of your body.

Digestive issues

Nerves damaged by neuropathy can negatively affect organs in your digestive system. This can lead to:

  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • impaired hunger
  • constipation
  • diarrhea

Additionally, it can affect how food moves within your stomach and intestines. These problems can lead to poor nutrition and, over time, more difficult-to-manage blood sugar levels.

Sexual dysfunction

If you have autonomic neuropathy, the nerves that impact sexual organs may be harmed. This can lead to:

  • erectile dysfunction in males
  • issues with sexual arousal and vaginal lubrication in females
  • impaired stimulation in both males and females

Infection in the legs and feet

Nerves in the legs and feet are often most affected by neuropathy. This can cause you to lose sensation to your feet and legs. Sores and cuts can go unnoticed and lead to infections.

In some extreme cases, infections can become severe and lead to ulcers. Over time, this can cause irreparable damage to the soft tissue and lead to the loss of toes or even your foot.

Excess or reduced sweating

Nerves impact the function of sweat glands, so damage to nerves could affect the functioning of your sweat glands.

This can lead to anhydrosis, also known as reduced sweating, or hyperhidrosis, also known as excess sweating, which may affect body temperature regulation.

Urinary problems

Nerves play an important role in managing the bladder and urinary system.

If the nerves that affect these systems are damaged, this can lead to the inability to recognize when the bladder is full and less control over urination.

What else causes neuropathy?

Neuropathy is most commonly caused by diabetes, but it may be caused by other conditions, including:

  • alcohol use disorder
  • exposure to toxins
  • tumors
  • abnormal levels of vitamin B and vitamin E
  • trauma that causes pressure to nerves
  • autoimmune diseases and infections
  • side effects of certain medications, such as chemotherapy

While you can’t reverse the damage from neuropathy, there are ways to help manage this diabetes complication. These may include:

Maintaining blood sugar and diabetes management is the most effective way of preventing diabetes complications overall.

While diabetes-related neuropathy cannot be reversed or cured, it is possible to manage the diabetes complication and prevent it from getting worse.

Improved diabetes management may also help alleviate symptoms, including any pain or tingling in the feet, legs, toes, arms, and other body parts.

Your diabetes and healthcare team can best advise on managing this diabetes complication, possibly treatments or medications that may help, and how diabetes management is a key part of preventing or addressing diabetes nerve damage.

Managing diabetes neuropathy

Explore how diabetes can affect your body, possibly leading to complications including neuropathy.