Excessive Sweating
The human body’s primary method of controlling internal temperature and releasing excess heat is through perspiration or sweating. Glands in the skin secrete water, evaporating and cooling the body. Sweating too much or not enough might be a symptom of peripheral nerve injury. Deterioration of the autonomic nerve system, which regulates processes like heart rate and sweating, is known as autonomic neuropathy.
If the nerves that regulate the sweat glands become damaged due to peripheral neuropathy, patients experience profuse perspiration, especially in the evening. In extreme cases, patients may experience localized sweating while other areas of the body remain dry. On the other hand, extreme sensitivity to heat is called heat intolerance, which can also be caused by neuropathy. Loss of control over sweating may lead to thermoregulatory failure and, in severe cases, heat stroke in patients.
Acetylcholine, a chemical messenger released by the sympathetic nervous system (a part of the autonomic nervous system), stimulates the sweat glands. Acetylcholine deficiency can be associated with peripheral neuropathy and contributes to muscle weakness. Profuse sweating in patients is accompanied by changes in blood pressure and bladder problems. Furthermore, it is more prevalent in patients whose neuropathy is linked to type 2 diabetes.
