Contents:
- Medical Video: Tingling Feet and Hands: An Early Warning of Neuropathy
- Tingling that lasts a while
- Tingling that lasts a long time
- Tingling as a sign of diabetes
- When should you get your tingling to see a doctor?
Medical Video: Tingling Feet and Hands: An Early Warning of Neuropathy
The most common sign of diabetes is excessive thirst, unusual fatigue, accidental weight loss and wounds that are difficult to heal. However, is frequent tingling also a sign of diabetes? Or is it a sign of another disease?
As we know, tingling or paraesthesia is the usual sensation of being pierced, burned, tinged, or numbed on the hands and feet. This is usually painless and temporary, although sometimes it can last long (chronic). To find out whether diabetes and tingling are related to each other, then see more below.
Tingling that lasts a while
Most people often experience temporary tingling from time to time. This occurs because of pressure on the body, which cuts off the blood supply to the nerves in the area. This will prevent the nerves from sending important signals to the brain. Placing weight on certain body parts (such as kneeling) or wearing tight shoes and socks can potentially cause tingling.
This temporary tingling can subside by only releasing pressure in the affected area. This allows your blood supply to flow again. Other common reasons for temporary tingling conditions include:
- Condition known as Raynaud's disease, which affects the blood supply to certain areas of the body, such as the fingers and toes, and is usually triggered by cold temperatures, and sometimes by anxiety or stress.
- Hyperventilation (breathing too fast).
Tingling that lasts a long time
Sometimes tingling can occur for a long time and this is one sign of various health conditions, including:
- Diabetes. A condition where there is too much glucose in the blood.
- The ulnar nerve is pinched. The ulnar nerve extends from the neck and runs along the inside of the upper arm to the elbow, then down to the side of the little finger with you. Each of these points can be pinched, but this is more common in the elbow.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome. This is a tingling sensation in the hand caused by a buildup of pressure in a small canal that runs from the wrist to the lowest palm (carpal tunnel).
- Scald at the hip. This pain is caused by irritation or pressure from the sciatic nerve that extends from the back of the pelvis through the buttocks and down to both feet to the toes.
Apart from the above conditions, tingling can also occur after an injury, or certain treatment, such as chemotherapy.
Tingling as a sign of diabetes
In many cases, tingling in the hands and feet can be a sign of nerve damage, which can result from traumatic injuries or recurrent stress injuries, bacterial or viral infections, exposure to poisons, and systemic diseases such as diabetes. This nerve damage is known as peripheral neuropathy, because it can affect distant nerves from the brain and spinal cord, often on the hands and feet. There are more than 100 types of peripheral neuropathy. Over time, peripheral neuropathy can worsen, and result in decreased mobility, even disability.
Diabetes is one of the most common causes of peripheral neuropathy, accounting for around 30% of cases. In diabetic neuropathy, tingling and other symptoms affect both hands and feet. About two-thirds of people with diabetes have mild to severe nerve damage. In many cases, these symptoms are the first sign of diabetes.
When should you get your tingling to see a doctor?
Most cases of tingling are temporary and will disappear if you release pressure on the affected body area. You are advised to see a doctor if you experience persistent tingling or keep coming back. This may be a sign of a more serious health condition. And the treatment for persistent tingling depends on the cause. And if it's caused by diabetes, the treatment will focus on controlling your blood glucose levels.
