But medical information is always changing, and some information given here may be out of date. For regularly updated information on a variety of health topics, please visit familydoctor.org , the AAFP patient education Web site. Diabetic neuropathy is a kind of nerve damage that happens in people who have diabetes. This damage reduces the ability of the nerves to carry messages to the brain and other parts of the body. Nerve damage occurs in people who have had diabetes for a long time.
Men have diabetic neuropathy more often than women.
Keep your blood sugar under control. If you are overweight, ask your doctor to help you lose weight. Exercise as regularly as possible. Take your medicines just the way your doctor tells you. If you have numbness in your feet and toes, you may have diabetic neuropathy.