Feet and hand tingling

Stephen Lewis · Apr 19, 2019

Annb said:
I had this unpleasant tingling in one foot many years ago but couldn't get anyone interested, then after a couple of years it developed in the second foot but again doctors and nurses seemed uninterested and couldn't offer any ideas about what was causing it. Even a podiatrist had no idea what the problem could be. Eventually I looked at all the other undiagnosed symptoms and asked my GP "is this diabetes?" The answer was definitely "yes". The tingling has never gone away despite getting my blood sugar down to reasonable levels although doppler tests and pin prick test, which are done fairly regularly now, show that the circulation is still OK.

Recently I have developed, not just tingling, but hands losing all sensation until I massage them back to life. I tried to find out if this was something similar to the feet but was told that I have carpal tunnel syndrome. Actually, I know that I do, but that is due to the extreme pain in my hand joints and I still suspect that the lifeless hands is something to do with diabetes.

Does anyone else have this problem?

In my experience and some research the messages being sent through our nervous system is a warning of something wrong and in my case this seems to be something wrong with the small capillaries. Eventually if the circulation does not improve the nerve endings start to stop responding and this results in numbness and worse conditions. In my case, even with diabetes, I have very little numbness but a very heightened touch/pain sensitivity to slight knocks and pressure. I would pass the pin prick test with great pain. Sometimes we just need to give the symptom information in the right way to enable the correct tests to be done or to get a referral to a specialist. Hope this helps Annb.

CrazyNanna27 · Apr 19, 2019

Seand1 said:
Hi, looking for some advice, I've been type 2 Diabetic for 2 years. My last HBA1c results were 59 which i know is not great but have been feeling fine. Over the last month I have had constant tingling in hands and feet more so the feet. I have seen my local Dr who simply says reduce blood sugar levels. I exercise every day. Any advice appreciated to get rid of this tingling. i have read about peripheral neuropathy which is quite alarming. I'm not sure if I have the 1st stages. Anyone else experience this sort of thing? Any advice appreciated.

I can't give you advice but I can tell you that my feet often tingle and it really worried me until I had my feet checked by my diabetes nurse and she told me that despite the tingling my feet are perfect with no sign of neuropathy - no explanation of why my feet tingle but I hope my reply may help to ease your mind.

CrazyNanna27 · Apr 19, 2019

Stephen Lewis said:
In my experience and some research the messages being sent through our nervous system is a warning of something wrong and in my case this seems to be something wrong with the small capillaries. Eventually if the circulation does not improve the nerve endings start to stop responding and this results in numbness and worse conditions. In my case, even with diabetes, I have very little numbness but a very heightened touch/pain sensitivity to slight knocks and pressure. I would pass the pin prick test with great pain. Sometimes we just need to give the symptom information in the right way to enable the correct tests to be done or to get a referral to a specialist. Hope this helps Annb.

Not sure if I'm replying in the right place but can't find the original question that annb asked. I had carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands with the same dead lifeless hands feeling and I too thought it was more to do with my diabetes until I had surgery for carpal tunnel on each wrist at different times.around 10 years ago and I have not had that awful feeling in my hands since. Try to get the cp surgery I promise you that in my case it was a life changing miracle

Annb · Apr 19, 2019

CrazyNanna27 said:
Not sure if I'm replying in the right place but can't find the original question that annb asked. I had carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands with the same dead lifeless hands feeling and I too thought it was more to do with my diabetes until I had surgery for carpal tunnel on each wrist at different times.around 10 years ago and I have not had that awful feeling in my hands since. Try to get the cp surgery I promise you that in my case it was a life changing miracle

Thanks for that, CrazyNanna. Although I was given the carpal tunnel diagnosis by a specialist at our local hospital, I didn't quite believe it. I wasn't offered any kind of treatment for the condition and didn't bother to ask any more because I didn't believe it. Once I have had other problems resolved by my GP, I'll ask again about this, since your experience is so similar.

Seand1 · Jun 10, 2019

Listlad said:
Yes me - in my feet. A mild form of it. Since radically reducing carbs this has stopped and stayed stopped.

Any signs of darkening around the toes?

Thanks for the reply, no signs. How long did it take to stop?

Seand1 · Jun 10, 2019

Guzzler said:
Hello and welcome to the forum. Tagging @daisy1 for the info pack offered to all newcomers.

Have you tried a dietary approach to improving your HbA1c? If your problem with tingling turns out to be caused by raised blood glucose levels then a lower carb way of eating may improve or even reverse peripheral neuropathy.

Do you use a blood glucose meter at home?

Have a wander around the forum and ask as many questions as you like.

I’m on the dietary approach and I use a meter my fasting sugars are
Now 6.0 to 7.5 they were 8.0 to 10.0 previously. Still got the same symptoms though. Thanks for your reply

Guzzler · Jun 10, 2019

Seand1 said:
I’m on the dietary approach and I use a meter my fasting sugars are
Now 6.0 to 7.5 they were 8.0 to 10.0 previously. Still got the same symptoms though. Thanks for your reply

It can take a wee while, good luck.

Seand1 · Jun 10, 2019

Stephen Lewis said:
My peripheral neuropathy developed gradually over many years. It began with with itchy feet particularly at night and in the winter. This was followed by tingling in the hands and feet then pins and needles. 18 months ago following a cut in my diabetic medication I got the sharp pains and a regularly occurring stinging that sometimes feels like the skin is being ripped off.
I have received the following good advice form this forum and my diabetic clinic.
Vitamin B12, preferably sub-lingual
Cut the carbs. Since last July I have followed the Low Carb Program and my A1Cs are much improved 9.7 Feb 2018 to 6.9 Feb 2019
Alpha Lipoic Acid. This helps to repair damaged cells the immediate cause of the pain reaction of the nervous system. The clinic suggested up 1800 mg per day. I take 4 x 400 mg per day and if I miss a tablet the condition rapidly gets worse.
Keep your feet warm as the contraction of blood vessels in the feet and hands when they are cold worsens the condition.
Keep going to the gym especially anything that pushes blood out to the feet and hands. I do very rapid walking on a treadmill when warming up for weight lifting.
I also have healing prayer at Church but this may not be for everybody.
All of these have coincided with an end to the deterioration in my condition and there is now a gradual improvement.
Find out what works for you and do it now before things start to get worse.

Thanks for your reply

Listlad · Jun 10, 2019

Seand1 said:
Thanks for the reply, no signs. How long did it take to stop?

Around a month on the strict lower carb higher fat diet. Not long. Surprisingly quick.

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