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Tingling and numbness in right leg and arm??

Hi, Recently we found out my husband has Diabetes type 2..so, dr. has given Metformin tab. twice a day..and, he is taking healthy diet like salad,fruits, wheat bread and green vegetables..going for a walk around 1-2 miles everyday...
but he is feeling tingling and numbness in right leg and arm since few days and it is constant...dr. told it's common in diabetes but we are very worried..
so, is it normal or we should consult the dr. again?
thanks a lot


Best Answer
141598 tn?1355671763
Tingling and numbness can be signs of nerve damage caused by uncontrolled and unmanaged diabetes - excess and unknown glucose levels. Does your husband have a home glucose test meter and is he testing his glucose levels at the appropriate times? More can said about this once we hear back from you. Also, not mentioned is his last A1c test result.

As far as diet everyone has a take on a healthy diet but few read nutrition labels for hidden sugars and excess carbohydrates [carbs to a t2 diabetic is the same as sugar]. Fruit contains fructose [aka fruit sugar]. There are diabetics, like myself, who cannot tolerate any fruits in any amount. Fruits to us is the same as ingesting pure granulated sugar. This is where home testing is valuable, to see what foods your husband can and cannot tolerate. If you wish to know about this you can send me a PM or read other forum post a few pages back as proper nutrition has been posted numerous times.

Lastly, it also sounds as if his doctor is blowing him off by not performing follow up testing. It might behoove your husband to get a referral to an Endocrinologist, a doctor who specializes in diabetes care and treatment. Good luck
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Avatar universal
Hello Sir,

My husband's weight is 145lbs..height is 5'6"..
According to home test his fasting level is 93.. PP is 123..

Last time fasting was 87 but I think this time it's little high..Please let me know if these nos. are ok..
thank you very much for all the tips..those were helpful..

Helpful - 0
141598 tn?1355671763
Correction to my last sentence, "If none exist just use forearm/palm from then on." Should say, "After several days of testing if none exist then use forearm/palm [no fingertip] from then on.
Helpful - 0
141598 tn?1355671763
You're welcome, glad to help out. I understand your husbands discomfort using a lancet on his fingertip, I don't particularly care for them either - didn't as a kid and still don't. However, as you've seen on the iNet there are meters on the market which allow obtaining blood samples from other less painful areas, the forearm and palm.

I'm not all that up-to-date on these type of meters but several I recall are Johnson & Johnsons Lifescan [fingertips, forearms and palms] and Abbot Laboratories Freestyle [fingertips and palms]. J&J recommends rubbing the area first for more blood flow, then cleaning area prior using the lancet. J&J also recommends testing on fingertip too to insure there is no large descrepency between test sites, where fingertip is considered more reliable. If none exist just use forearm/palm from then on. HTH
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks again..I really appreciate it..you have been so helpful..

I have a question regarding testing with gluco meter at home...
My husband is not comfortable to ***** his finger for testing so he doesn't do testing often..can you please tell any other option for home blood testing..?
I have seen in website there is a monitor which can tell your blood glucose level but for that we need to use any other part of body like arms instead of finger..
so, how much are they accurate? what is your opinion? please suggest!!
thanks
Helpful - 0
141598 tn?1355671763
You're welcome, SS2003. Yes, a fasting level of 87 mg/dl is perfect. Normal ranges are 60/70 to 99 mg/dl. He needs to continue working on lowering his levels. Losing weight helps a lot along with daily exercise and eating a proper diabetic nutrition. An A1c of 7.7% says his daily glucose level is 174 mg/dl, HIGH. Even 7% is high as it equates to 154 mg/dl. Ideal level is <5% = 97 mg/dl.

As mentioned in my prior post his numbness and tingling can be associated with nerve damage. If this continues he should see an Endocrinologist [diabetes specialist]. He may then get referred to a Neurologist [nerve damage specialist] for advanced treatment. The key for the moment is for him to test, test, test at home. Test before a meal [preprandial] then 2-3 hours after postprandial]. Before provides a baseline measurement while postprandial tells how the foods consumed affected his levels. Avoid those that do, especially foods laden with carbohydrates.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi Sir, it's been a while..I couldn't reply you back earlier..
first of all thanks a ton for the reply!! I really appreciate it..

Yesterday, my husband did fasting blood test at home..his level is 83 now..one month back it was 147..so, I think his sugar is in control..please suggest if this level is fine..
And, good news is that he has reduced 9lbs in a month..current weight is 150lbs..he is taking Multivitamin one a day also..his A1c was 7.7 according to last month's test reports..dr. said it should be below 7 and he has recommended next test in June..
hopefully, everything should be fine in couple of months..btw he is still suffering from Numbness and tingling..
please let me know if you need more info..
thanks again
Helpful - 0
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