Diabetes can cause numbness in your legs and toes, arms and hands. It can also cause shooting pain deep in the soles of your feet. It is the type of pain that keeps you awake at night–as do numerous other diseases like RSDS (a neurological and chronic pain disorder).

Pain is caused by nerve damage called neuropathic pain and is common in diabetes patients. It is estimated to affect 5 million Americans and is often misunderstood by sufferers. It is not uncommon for a person to think that it is just a natural part of aging and is a medical condition that can be treated medically.

The Invisible Project is a project from The National Pain Foundation that shares some of the chronic pain sufferer’s stories.