Sweat Glands

Autonomic nerves control your sweat glands. This helps your body control its temperature. When these nerves are damaged, sweating may be absent on your hands and feet and it may increase on your face and trunk.

Problems

• The body may not be able to keep cool with exercise. Heat stroke is more likely.
• Your feet or hands may get too dry. This makes them crack and bleed more easily, making foot ulcers more likely.
• Sweating may occur in your face and neck when you are eating certain foods like spicy foods, cheese, chocolate, red sausages, red wines and some soft drinks.

Prevention of nerve damage.
You can prevent nerve damage to the sweat glands with good blood sugar control. To reduce the risk of nerve damage, strive to:

• Keep your hemoglobin A1c at 7% or less (a 3 month average blood sugar test)
• Control blood pressure
• Donít smoke
• Eat a healthy diet
• Exercise most days
• Avoid or limit alcohol

Questions?
If you have further questions about treatment for nerve disease of the sweat glands, contact your diabetes healthcare team.

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