Following is a list of causes or underlying conditions (see also Misdiagnosis of underlying causes of Diabetic neuropathy) that could possibly cause Diabetic neuropathy includes:
To research the causes of Diabetic neuropathy, consider researching the causes of these these diseases that may be similar, or associated with Diabetic neuropathy:
Causes of Types of Diabetic neuropathy: Review the cause informationfor the various types of Diabetic neuropathy:
Causes of Broader Categories of Diabetic neuropathy: Review the causal information about the various more general categories of medical conditions:
Other conditions that might have Diabetic neuropathy as a complication may, potentially, be an underlying cause of Diabetic neuropathy. Our database lists the following as having Diabetic neuropathy as a complication of that condition:
Causes: Diabetic neuropathy:
Diabetic sugar levels damage the nerves.
Article excerpts about the
causes of Diabetic neuropathy:
Scientists do not know what causes diabetic
neuropathy, but several factors are likely to contribute to the disorder.
High blood glucose, a condition associated with diabetes, causes chemical
changes in nerves. These changes impair the nerves' ability to transmit
signals. High blood glucose also damages blood vessels that carry oxygen
and nutrients to the nerves. In addition, inherited factors probably
unrelated to diabetes may make some people more susceptible to nerve
disease than others.
How high blood glucose leads to nerve damage is a subject of intense research. The precise mechanism is not known. Researchers have discovered that high glucose levels affect many metabolic pathways in the nerves, leading to an accumulation of a sugar called sorbitol and depletion of a substance called myoinositol. However, studies in humans have not shown convincingly that these changes are the mechanism that causes nerve damage.
More recently, researchers have focused on the effects of excessive glucose metabolism on the amount of nitric oxide in nerves. Nitric oxide dilates blood vessels. In a person with diabetes, low levels of nitric oxide may lead to constriction of blood vessels supplying the nerve, contributing to nerve damage. Another promising area of research centers on the effect of high glucose attaching to proteins, altering the structure and function of the proteins and affecting vascular function.
Scientists are studying how these changes occur, how they are connected, how they cause nerve damage, and how to prevent and treat damage. (Source: excerpt from Diabetic Neuropathy The Nerve Damage of Diabetes: NIDDK)
The following medical news items are relevant to causes of Diabetic neuropathy:
As with all medical conditions, there may be many causal factors. Further relevant information on causes of Diabetic neuropathy may be found in:
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