Autonomic neuropathy

The autonomic nervous system controls your heart, bladder, lungs, stomach, intestines, sex organs and eyes. Diabetes can affect the nerves in any of these areas, possibly causing:

• A lack of awareness that blood sugar levels are low (hypoglycemia unawareness)
• Bladder problems, including frequent urinary tract infections, urinary incontinence or urinary retention
• Constipation, uncontrolled diarrhea or a combination of the two
• Slow stomach emptying (gastroparesis) leading to nausea, vomiting, sensation of fullness and loss of appetite
• Difficulty swallowing
• Erectile dysfunction in men
• Vaginal dryness and other sexual difficulties in women
• Increased or decreased sweating
• Sudden drops in blood pressure when you rise from sitting or lying down, that may cause you to feel lightheaded or faint (orthostatic hypotension)
• Problems regulating your body temperature
• Changes in the way your eyes adjust from light to dark
• Increased heart rate even when you're at rest