About 5 million people in the U.S. have diabetic neuropathy. back to top Symptoms Like other neuromuscular problems, the symptoms vary. The first signs of diabetic neuropathy may be numbness and tingling in the feet. The same person may have pain and insensitivity to pain with neuropathy. Usually symptoms being slowly at first and may go unnoticed initially. In others, the onset can be sudden and severe, especially with focal neuropathy, which affects specific nerves often in the torso, leg or head.
Focal neuropathy occurs most often in older people with mild diabetes.
The symptoms for that may include severe pain, aching behind the eye or problems with the eyes or hearing or Bell's palsy. In diabetic neuropathy, the pain may feel like a burning sensation in the feet. It was also described as a series of jolts down the lower extremities. Because the pain can be worse at night, diabetic neuropathy can affect sleep, as well. It can be localized or generalized and depends on what nerves are affected.