Exploring the Connection: Can Prediabetes Cause Neuropathy?

Getting a prediabetes diagnosis leaves one often wondering if prediabetics face the same issues as people with diabetes. 

We know for a fact that prediabetes is the forerunner of type 2 diabetes. Most people with uncontrolled or unmanaged prediabetes go on to develop type 2 diabetes after some years, and about 50% of people with diabetes suffer from peripheral neuropathy in their lifetime. Studies have also linked prediabetes to cardiovascular disease and neuropathy.

The question, however, is, how serious can this get? Let's dive into the facts.

Key Facts

What is Prediabetes?

When you have prediabetes, your blood sugar level is higher than normal but not high enough to be called type 2 diabetes. In this condition, the body's production of insulin, which helps regulate your blood sugar, isn't working optimally. Unmanaged or poorly managed prediabetes will lead to full-blown diabetes after some years.

Prediabetes mainly presents no symptoms, but where it does, it may be similar to that of diabetes. You may experience increased thirst, urination, tiredness, blurry vision, and other cardiovascular issues and peripheral neuropathy symptoms.

People who eat unhealthy, unbalanced, and high-carb diets, who are inactive, overweight, and who are over 45 years old are at a higher risk of developing prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Having a family history of prediabetes or a history of gestational diabetes also increases your risk.

The good news, however, is that lifestyle changes, including a healthier diet and exercise, can prevent prediabetes or stall its progression into type 2 diabetes.

What is Peripheral Neuropathy?

Peripheral neuropathy occurs due to nerve damage outside the brain and spinal cord. This condition is a commonly known complication of type 2 diabetes that leads to foot sores and amputation; however, emerging studies have shown this can also happen to people with prediabetes.

Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy are pain or numbness in the hands and feet, burning or freezing sensations in the hands and feet, balance issues, abnormal blood pressure, and difficulty with movement.

Apart from prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, other risk factors of peripheral neuropathy are alcoholism, vitamin and nutrient deficiencies, chemotherapy, certain medications, tumors, and genetic conditions like amyloidosis, Fabry disease, and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

The Connection Between Neuropathy and Prediabetes

The common link between prediabetes and neuropathy is that prediabetes increases blood sugar to abnormal levels, which, if not controlled, can lead to diabetes.

Untreated or poorly managed diabetes may cause peripheral neuropathy at some point. However, some people who have prediabetes with uncontrolled sugar levels for many months may develop neuropathy, even when they don't have diabetes - Although prediabetic neuropathy presents milder symptoms than diabetic neuropathy.

But then, in a study published in Diabetes Care, the University of Toronto's C. Christine Lee and colleagues suggested that prediabetes was associated with similar risks for peripheral neuropathy and severity of nerve dysfunction as new-onset diabetes. The study also found an independent connection between prediabetes and both peripheral neuropathy and the severity of nerve dysfunction.

The bottom line is that uncontrolled, prolonged abnormal sugar levels increase the risk of neuropathy, whether in prediabetes or diabetes. However, the chances and severity may increase in full-blown diabetes that has lingered for years.

Preventing Prediabetes, Diabetes, and Peripheral Neuropathy

Since prediabetes, diabetes, and neuropathy are closely related, preventing one will always help avoid the other.

The primary step to curb prediabetes is to adopt lifestyle changes like healthy dieting and exercising, which will drastically reduce the chances of prediabetes, diabetes, and neuropathy.

For overweight or obese prediabetic people, the goal of exercise and healthy diet choices is to lose some pounds. Losing weight can go a long way to prevent type 2 diabetes and complications like cardiovascular disease and neuropathy.

What is the Way Forward if I Have Prediabetic Neuropathy?

Suppose you show signs of neuropathic pain. In that case, it's crucial to seek prompt medical attention from a chiropractic neurologist, as that could be the very first sign of type 2 diabetes or prediabetes in some cases. The doctor is best positioned to offer expert insight and appropriate next steps to manage your neuropathy.

Remember, early detection is critical to preventing complications related to prediabetes and type 2 diabetes - Complications like amputation, cardiovascular disease, and stroke.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Prediabetes increases the risk of neuropathy, even before diabetes onset, due to prolonged exposure to abnormal glucose levels. Symptoms may be milder in prediabetic neuropathy but still impactful. Hence, a comprehensive health approach, including lifestyle changes, glycemic control, and collaborative care between patients and doctors, is essential to manage prediabetes better, stall its progression, or even prevent complications like neuropathy.