Symptoms are often worse at night. Peripheral neuropathy affects the peripheries of the body. These are the toes, feet, legs, hands, and arms, the NIDDK says. Symptoms include:

• Numbness to pain or temperature in those areas
• A tingling, burning, or prickling feeling
• Sharp pain or cramps
• Extreme sensitivity to touch
• Problems with balance and coordination

Treatment focuses on controlling blood sugar. Bringing blood sugar under control helps prevent further nerve damage. This may be done by better meal planning, exercise, medicine, and watching blood sugar and A1c levels. Symptoms may get worse at first. But then they may ease as normal blood sugar levels are maintained, the NIDDK says. If pain is a problem, your healthcare provider also may prescribe a pain reliever or other medicines that treat pain. Your provider can also help with problems linked to digestion, urinary and sexual functions, and dizziness. You may have nerve pain from more than one cause. Some of those other causes may be helped by surgery. So work with your healthcare provider to have a full assessment of your condition.

Pay special attention to areas of your body affected by neuropathy. If your feet and legs are affected, check those areas every day for wounds or sores or other problems. Call your healthcare provider if you have an open sore or have any injury to your arm, legs, fingers, or toes.