If you are experiencing diabetes numbness in leg symptoms, it should be a very serious concern. Symptoms such as these may indicate that you have diabetic neuropathy, which is a condition which can yield very severe consequences. It is recommended that anyone who experiences diabetes numbness in leg symptoms seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Diabetic neuropathy is nerve damage that comes about after years of having high levels of sugar in the bloodstream. Typically this nerve damage begins in the feet and leg, as well as the hands and arms. The symptoms of diabetic neuropathy include tingling and numbness in the hands, feet, legs, and arms. Sharp pains and burning sensations may also be felt in these areas.
The most serious problem associated with diabetic neuropathy is that, due to numbness, scratches, sores, scrapes, and other injuries may be overlooked and lead to an infection. If this infection continues to go untreated, it could lead to the limb having to be amputated. Many people do not realize that amputations are all too often the result of simple and minor breaks in the skin, especially in diabetes.
More Diabetes Numbness in Leg Symptoms
Another typical and even more serious reason a person may have diabetes numbness in leg symptoms is peripheral artery disease (PAD). The accompanying symptoms of this condition may include tight, aching, or squeezing pain in the calf, thigh, or buttock. This pain usually comes about after you have walked a short distance and goes away after you stop walking (Web.MD.com, 2011).
People with diabetes who already have pain or numbness may not sense the pain caused by PAD. Some people also do not exert themselves enough for the pain to begin. In cases such as this, PAD may go undiagnosed. If PAD goes untreated, it heightens the chance of a diabetic having a heart attack, stroke, or even dying. Furthermore, it is important that the condition is detected early because preventative methods can be put into place, lessening the likelihood of such catastrophes (WebMD.com, 2012).
According to StanfordHospital.org, other symptoms of PAD may include ulcers and sores in the legs and feet that don’t heal, and a coldness in the lower legs and feet. Visual symptoms may include a difficulty walking or balancing, feet that become pale when elevated and red when dangled, blue or purple marks on the legs, feet, or toes, and/ or loss of hair on the legs, feet, and toes. Many of these symptoms can be confused for diabetic neuropathy, poor circulation, or even arthritis. In any case, diabetes numbness in the leg or any of the symptoms listed above are causes for concern and should be reported to your doctor as soon as possible.
