Diabetic Neuropathy

[confused1234]

For the past 6 months or so I have been experiencing neuropathic tingling and burning sensations in my thighs. It is a constant sensation, felt most severely when sitting down. It is in both legs, previously felt mostly on the insides of my thighs, but more recently on the outside and backs of my legs as well. I have no visual symptoms when experiencing this, no rash or marks etc. When it occurs it usually lasts constantly for a week or sometimes 2, then it disappears. The frequency of recurrences seems to be increasing, while it not painful it is rather uncomfortable and distressing.
I am male, mid 20s, generally in good health although I drink more than I should.
I do not think I have any other specific diabetes symptoms, although most recently I have been getting up to urinate during the night which I never used to do.
Is it possible this neuropathy is an early symptom of type 2 diabetes?

Thanks

[confused1234]

Thanks very much for your answer, I appreciate your advice

Regards

[JDRF-Team-sgg]

If I were you, I would go to a doctor and have him run the simple blood glucose test that would answer the question about diabetes. Most people do not experience complications such as neuropathy until long after diabetes is diagnosed, but on some occasions, I have known diabetic people whose first symptom was some complication such as neuropathy or loss of vision. The complications are caused by long periods of elevated glucose readings that damage small blood vessels and/or nerves, and it IS possible for a person who is developing diabetes to live with elevated glucose levels that are not high enough to be critical (i.e., to put them in a diabetic coma), but that ARE elevated enough to cause damage to the body. If I were you, I would definitely have glucose levels checked out. Also, getting up to urinate often at night could be an indication that you are experiencing enough of the thirst that is a symptom of diabetes to be drinking more liquids than usual. In my experience as a volunteer for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, I have noticed that most type 1 diabetics are diagnosed at any of three different times in their lives: early childhood, around the age of puberty, and finally, in early 20's. So your age also fits the possible pattern for the onset of diabetes.

If the tests come back normal, you probably do need to be checked for other possible causes of nerve damage or malfunctions. Other diseases can cause these problems, too, and all of them should be treated before severe damage is done. Severe nerve damage is not reversible, and so catching any problem before it becomes severe is the key to successful treatment. I would not wait to see what happens, but would encourage you to act aggressively to get a diagnosis.

I do wish you the very best.