Diabetes can damage the vagus nerve if blood glucose levels remain high over a long period of time. High blood glucose levels can cause chemical changes in nerves and can damage the blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients to the nerves.
A guideline diabetes control target is to aim for HbA1C levels of less than 48 mmol/mol*, or 58 mmol/mol if you are at risk of severe hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose). Please remember your own targets will be agreed between you and your doctor.
* Millimoles per mole: a measurement representing the concentration of one substance in another.
Reviewed: April 2011
Next review: October 2012