Autonomic Neuropathy
| Area Affected |
Problem |
Effects |
| Heart |
No pain with a heart attack
No increase in the heart rate with activity |
"Silent heart attack"
Tired and out of breath with activity |
| Blood Pressure |
Unable to adjust when you go from lying down to standing |
Dizziness, Feeling Faint, Passing Out |
| Bladder |
Unable to empty all the urine from the bladder
Unable to feel the urge to urinate |
Kidney/bladder infections |
| Stomach/Intestines |
Movement of food through the intestine slows down or there is loss of control over bowels |
After eating:
-Feeling of fullness, Nausea, Vomiting
Diarrhea, constipation, difficulty controlling blood glucose levels |
| Sexual Function |
Men: Impotency- difficulty in having or maintaining an erection
Women: Vaginal dryness |
Sexual Problems, Impotency |
| Unaware of Low Blood Glucose |
No early symptoms of low blood glucose |
Without early warning signs, may delay treatment and pass out |
| Feet |
Increased dryness and cracking of feet |
Skin breakdown, Infections
|
Help for managing these problems is available. Ask your health care team for treatment options.