For people with diabetes, numbness in fingers is potentially a very serious condition, due to diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage), which is brought on by high blood sugar levels. It is not exactly known how exposure to glucose causes nerve damage, and it may vary from person to person. It may be the direct result it has on the nerves, or that it affects circulation. If it’s not caught early, you may need to have the finger removed. Early warning signs include pain or numbness in fingers, and also tingling sensations. The numbness and tingling is similar to when you “fall asleep on your hand.” In addition, the fingers may feel cold, and you might develop a rash. In the case of diabetes, numbness in fingers may be accompanied by pain and possibly dizziness.
As an early indication and symptom of diabetes, numbness in fingers poses an additional health risk, in that diabetics can often lose sensation in their extremities, so it’s important to regularly check your feet and hands to make sure there is no infection or wound that you’re not aware of.
Diabetes, Tingling Fingers, and Methods of Treatment
If you have not yet been diagnosed with diabetes, numbness in fingers and tingling sensations may indicate other conditions. This can be poor circulation, carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), or nerve damage due to an excess of vitamin B6 or Raynaud’s disease. Pay close attention to any other symptoms that would confirm this as diabetes, such as excessive thirst and urination, dizziness, sudden weight loss and fatigue. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, see your doctor immediately. In cases of CTS, while it may be unrelated to diabetes, those with the disease are 15 times more likely to get it. Special exercises, a wrist splint, and ice packs may help provide relief. Homeopathic remedies that have been found to help with nerve damage include tissue salts, which provide nutrition to the nerves and brain, and support the nervous system. Herbs for nerve health include chamomile, rosemary, and ginkgo biloba.
Diabetes, Numb Fingers, and the Importance of Prevention
The last option for those with diabetes and fingers that are numb and tingling is surgery. CTS sufferers usually don’t need surgery, though it may be recommended for people with diabetes, numbness and tingling in their fingers, if neuropathy is present. The cause of neuropathy has to do with mineral deficiencies in the blood that surround the nerves.
Because of the inherent dangers of diabetes and numbness in fingers, it is especially important to be proactive and take steps in prevention. This includes a healthy diet full of nutrients that the body requires, frequent exercise, and a careful monitoring of your blood sugar. If you have diabetes, numbness in fingers can be very serious – but it can also be prevented with a healthy lifestyle.
