Numbness & tingling - fingers & hands?

[swissmiss]

Hi all, any experience from anyone who’s had this would be welcome. When I wake up at night or in the morning, my hands feel numb & swollen, and my fingers tingle and I struggle to grip for any length of time (including my smartphone—Sacre bleu!). The numbness mostly wears off but the tingling can recur throughout the day.

This is the symptom that has got me back to seeing the GP for annual-ish full bloods. And also got me to cut carbs near to the bone, as I observed these symptoms more when I was “slipping” (eg a crumpet per day ).

My fasting bloods are always over 6, and an HBA1c done by the ICS Diabetes education programme was 38 in September (down from 44 a year before). However I have an unusual #/people in my family with blood weirdness (polycythemia Vera) and I understand that the HBA1c measures the amount of blood glucose ‘sticking’ to red blood cells, so I wonder if my HBA1c might not be the full picture of where my “pre-Diabetes” is.

I’m over 45 now, will my GP think I’m moaning and it’s just age? Has anyone else found they had this even with good control on blood sugars.?

 

[NicoleC1971]

I had the same symptoms or similar (numbness which I noticed more at night) and feared the onset of nenuropathy having had variably controlled type 1 for 37 years.
Went to the physio who said that only a nerve conductivity test could rule out this possibility but that based on my symptoms she thought it was more likely to be related to the onset of carpal tunnel syndrome. She said that since the numbness was not in my feet/legs and the sensations weren't constant it was unlikely to be neurological.
You are pre diabetic and right to be cautious about carbs however most poeple don't get these issues until they have had diabetes (diagnosed or un diagnosed) for 20 years plus.

 

[Listlad]

Very very slightly. But I do get that in my feet.

I was told it goes to the feet initially.

My GP recommended exercise to help. As in keeping the feet active as opposed to full blown gym work.

 

[Deleted Account]

I experience tingling and numbness in my hands and have done many years before being diagnosed with diabetes. I remember experiencing it in primary school and was diagnosed with diabetes in my 30s.
As type 1 is rarely a "slow burner" and this was a condition experienced by my mother and grandmother who did not have diabetes, I am confident, for me, it is unrelated to diabetes.
I always find the tingling and numbness is associated with white fingers and often associated with cold or stress. This is Raynauds.
Has Raynauds been discussed with your doctor?

 

[Listlad]

I know Raynauds can also be caused by vibration and repetitive activity with the hands for example. I came across this in the industry I have worked in but presumably you haven’t been using the kind of (industrial) equipment for long periods of time that might lead to that....

 

[zauberflote]

I had my second hip reolacement in July 2017 (long before bloods came up suspicious) and began immediately to have nerve symptoms that I’d not had at all with the first one. Also had a bad reaction to Meloxicam which caused tingling in all kinds of places including face, extremities, and some REALLY weird places too. So it progressed from zingers and tingling in the surgery site to fingers and toes too. Have no idea what’s the real cause, but I will never take meloxicam again!!!!! Also have Reynaud’s, which got way worse with the weight loss, and the toes have gotten into that act. Sigh.

 

[Charis1213]

I get this but i sleep with both arms under my pillow and it causes numbness and tingling , goes off after while .

 

[Bluetit1802]

There are many conditions that can have the tinging fingers sensations you describe. Perhaps your doctor should be running some tests to rule some of these out.

As for the HbA1c being "false", lower than expected HbA1cs are normally associated with anaemia and certain other conditions, such as thyroid issues, and also if you have red blood cells that do not live as long as the standard 120 days, which is the length of time the HbA1c works on.

 

[Veryanxious]

I had the same symptoms or similar (numbness which I noticed more at night) and feared the onset of nenuropathy having had variably controlled type 1 for 37 years.
Went to the physio who said that only a nerve conductivity test could rule out this possibility but that based on my symptoms she thought it was more likely to be related to the onset of carpal tunnel syndrome. She said that since the numbness was not in my feet/legs and the sensations weren't constant it was unlikely to be neurological.
You are pre diabetic and right to be cautious about carbs however most poeple don't get these issues until they have had diabetes (diagnosed or un diagnosed) for 20 years plus.

I get really bad numbness in fingers in morning after my carb loaded meal. I believe one doesn't need to be diabetic to get such symptoms. Even with little rise in blood glucose I feel those symptoms. I think it's because of water retention and inflammation caused by carbs in people who have high IR.

 

[DianaMC]

I’ve had episodes of numbness, pins and needles, as well as cramp, usually in the mornings, in my hands/fingers, toes and calves.

I was concerned these were related to diabetes and had various blood tests - which is part of how I ended up with a diagnosis of prediabetes.

I’ve also had low blood pressure though, which is less typical of a diabetes issue. So I’ve continued to try to find out what’s going on that doesn’t feel right in my body’s responses.

Times of numbness have often coincided with feeling over tired/lethargic, and chilly. Most recently I’ve come across information about the vagus nerve function, in the overall nervous system (polyvagal theory). It turns out that might have a lot to do with these episodes - and the cause may be emotional. I think this adds up (for me, at least) It might be different for other people. But it’s helped me to find some possible answers with this. I’d been looking at chronic fatigue, too, but as an ongoing, regular experience, that doesn’t really fit for me.

 

[Veryanxious]

I’ve had episodes of numbness, pins and needles, as well as cramp, usually in the mornings, in my hands/fingers, toes and calves.

I was concerned these were related to diabetes and had various blood tests - which is part of how I ended up with a diagnosis of prediabetes.

I’ve also had low blood pressure though, which is less typical of a diabetes issue. So I’ve continued to try to find out what’s going on that doesn’t feel right in my body’s responses.

Times of numbness have often coincided with feeling over tired/lethargic, and chilly. Most recently I’ve come across information about how the vagus nerve function, in the overall nervous system (polyvagal theory). It turns out that might have a lot to do with these episodes - and the cause may be emotional. I think this adds up (for me, at least) It might be different for other people. But it’s helped me to find some possible answers with this. I’d been looking at chronic fatigue, too, but as an ongoing, regular experience, that doesn’t really fit for me.

I used to get tingling sensation since I was was in high school. I am pretty sure I have insulin resistant my whole life as it runs in family. I wish someone would have pointed it out. At my place we always link tingling sensation to sitting for long at a place in one position, we sit cross legged alot. The give away was edema which started since last three years. I started having bad edema in legs like a kideny patient. But for me even after going to a kideny specialist, two GP nothing came out. As all my blood results were normal. No doctor pointed this out except my mum who kept saying the loose weight. I wish I listened her.
I can definitely say that these are all sugar and carbs intolerance related issues. Since going on a low carb diet both edema, tingling and numbness have disappeared.
I hope your and my experience can help someone figure out .Before it's late for them.