The sweating in specific areas caused by 'deficiency and consumptive damage of zang-fu organs and stagnation of qi and blood' mentioned in Donguibogam can be thought of as closely linked to diabetic neuropathy in modern medicine, especially autonomic neuropathy. Diabetic neuropathy is one of the representative diabetic complications that develops when persistent hyperglycemia causes nerve injury. Although all nerves in our body are distributed throughout the entire body, it frequently affects the peripheral nerves of the feet and legs first. The autonomic nervous system is responsible for physiological functions that are regulated automatically without conscious effort, such as sweat gland activity, heartbeat, and digestion; when this autonomic nervous system is damaged, problems also arise in sweat regulation. The main symptoms can be largely divided into two types. The first is 'anhidrosis' (decreased sweating). As nerve signals heading to sweat glands weaken due to nerve injury, sweat secretion in specific areas such as the feet or legs can decrease. When this happens, the skin becomes dry and prone to cracking, making it vulnerable to wounds and infection. People with diabetes, in particular, heal slowly from wounds, so small issues can lead to major complications, requiring even greater caution. The second is 'compensatory hyperhidrosis' (increased compensatory sweating). When sweat does not come out properly from the feet or legs, the body sweats excessively in other areas, such as the face, head, and upper trunk, for thermoregulation. Because of this, some people feel, 'I sweat excessively only on my upper body.' This abnormal sweating goes beyond mere inconvenience and is an important sign indicating that nerve damage has progressed considerably. In other words, it means a red flag in diabetes management. Poor blood glucose control or a longer duration of diabetes increases the risk of this nerve damage occurring. If you have these symptoms, you must consult your primary physician to receive an accurate diagnosis and check the extent of nerve damage progression. Autonomic neuropathy must be diagnosed early and managed proactively to prevent it from leading to more severe complications. Please never leave it unattended, as your health is precious.
