Neuropathy, the nerve damage that causes pain and numbness in the feet and hands and can eventually lead to falls, infection and even amputation, is very common and underdiagnosed, according to a study published in the online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

169 people participated in the study, half of whom had Diabetes. All participants were tested for distal symmetric polyneuropathy. Distal symmetric polyneuropathy is a type of nerve disorder that affects the longest nerve fibres, usually starting from the toes and feet and progressing to the hands and arms

A total of 73 per cent of the people had neuropathy. Of those, 75 per cent had not been previously diagnosed with the condition. Nearly 60 per cent of those with neuropathy were experiencing pain. Of those with neuropathy, 74 per cent had metabolic syndrome, compared to 54 per cent of those who did not have neuropathy.

The researchers concluded that people with metabolic syndrome were more than four times more likely to have neuropathy than people who  did not have the syndrome.