Nerve damage is one possible complication from having high blood sugar levels for a long time. Not only does it help you with day-to-day wellness, it can help prevent serious health problems down the road. Managing your blood sugar is an essential part of your diabetes care plan. You can prevent it or slow its progress by keeping your blood sugar as close to your target range as possible and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. High blood sugar can lead to nerve damage called diabetic neuropathy. If you have severe muscle weakness, you may need physical or occupational therapy.Nerve damage can affect your hands, feet, legs, and arms. Talk to your doctor about exercising during your recovery. Regular exercise can help you strengthen your weakened muscles. You may need some help with some of your activities and chores until you're stronger. Support at home is important during this time. Some people have more serious problems, such as long-term weakness or balance problems. In most cases, these problems won't get in the way of your daily life. Many people have long-term effects, such as numbness in the toes and fingers. And you may have to wait several months before you can return to your regular activities. You may need 3 to 6 months or longer to recover. Both plasma exchange and IVIG therapy may be needed to reduce the severity of a relapse. You may need to stay in the hospital for weeks or longer, until your symptoms have improved. These treatments may help your body fight the disease and may speed your recovery if they are used when you first get sick. In IVIG, helpful antibodies are added to your blood.The harmful antibodies are removed from the blood, and then the blood is returned to your body. In a plasma exchange, blood is taken out of your body.In the hospital, you may get a plasma exchange or intravenous immune globulin (IVIG). Some people need a ventilator to help them breathe. Your breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure are carefully tracked. The hospital staff will watch you carefully to be sure you don't get worse or get an infection. This syndrome usually is treated in the hospital. If the diagnosis isn't clear, you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in the nervous system ( neurologist). Your doctor also may do tests, such as a lumbar puncture and a nerve conduction study. You are losing your reflexes, which are automatic body movements that you can't control.Two signs are important in helping your doctor decide if you have Guillain-Barré syndrome: He or she also may ask if you've had any recent infections. Your doctor will ask when your symptoms started and how they have changed. How is Guillain-Barré syndrome diagnosed? This is because the condition can be deadly if weakness spreads to muscles that control breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure.Ĭall your doctor or get help right away if you think you might have Guillain-Barré syndrome. You may need to be treated in the hospital for the first few weeks. After about 4 weeks, most people begin to get better. Over several days, muscle weakness in the legs and arms develops. Symptoms usually start with numbness or tingling in the fingers and toes. Trouble speaking, chewing, and swallowing.Muscle weakness in your legs and arms and the sides of your face.Numbness or tingling in your hands and feet and sometimes around the mouth and lips.Zika virus, which can cause fever, rash, painful joints, and red eyes.

Varicella-zoster virus, which can cause chickenpox and shingles.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which can cause fatigue, weight loss, fever, night sweats, diarrhea, and other symptoms.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which can cause mononucleosis (mono).

Cytomegalovirus (CMV), which can cause fever, chills, sore throat, swollen glands, body aches, and fatigue.

Campylobacter jejuni, which can cause a type of food poisoning.

Often it is after an infection of the lungs or stomach and intestines. It usually begins to affect the nerves after you've had a viral or bacterial infection. In Guillain-Barré syndrome, the immune system attacks the covering ( myelin sheath) of certain nerves. They think that the nerves are attacked by your body's own defence system (the immune system). What causes Guillain-Barré syndrome?Įxperts don't know what causes it. But most people get better and have few lasting problems. This rare condition can cause paralysis and lead to death. It causes muscle weakness, loss of reflexes, and numbness or tingling in your arms, legs, face, and other parts of your body. Guillain-Barré syndrome (say 'ghee-YAN bah-RAY') is a problem with your nervous system.

Topic Overview What is Guillain-Barré syndrome?

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