Diabetic Neuropathy
Also known as: Peripheral Neuropathy, Diabetic Nerve Damage
Nerve damage caused by prolonged high blood glucose — most commonly affecting the feet and legs.
Diabetic neuropathy is the most common long-term complication of diabetes, affecting up to 50% of people with diabetes over their lifetime. It results from chronic exposure to high glucose, which damages the small blood vessels (microangiopathy) that supply nerves, as well as the nerve fibers themselves.
Peripheral neuropathy — numbness, tingling, burning, or pain in the feet and lower legs — is the most prevalent form. Autonomic neuropathy can affect digestion, heart rate, blood pressure, and bladder function. Proximal neuropathy causes hip and thigh weakness. Focal neuropathy affects individual nerves.
For feet, neuropathy dramatically increases injury risk because pain signals that would normally warn of blisters, cuts, or pressure sores are absent. This is the primary reason Medicare covers therapeutic diabetic shoes and inserts: protecting insensate feet from ulcers that can progress to infection and amputation.
Frequently asked
What is Diabetic Neuropathy?
Nerve damage caused by prolonged high blood glucose — most commonly affecting the feet and legs. Diabetic neuropathy is the most common long-term complication of diabetes, affecting up to 50% of people with diabetes over their lifetime. It results from chronic exposure to high glucose, which damages the small blood vessels (microangiopathy) that supply nerves, as well as the nerve fibers themselves.
How does Diabetic Neuropathy relate to Medicare coverage?
Medicare Part B covers most durable medical equipment related to Diabetic Neuropathy. Contact us to verify your specific coverage for related diabetic supplies.
Where can I get diabetic supplies related to Diabetic Neuropathy in Phoenix?
We deliver Medicare-covered diabetic supplies throughout the Phoenix metro area. Call us or complete the form above to verify your coverage.