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Diabetes type II

I am 57 year old female with strong family history of diabetes, heart attack, stroke and cancer.  I am taking insulin 2 x daily and have recently have started have tingling/numbness sensations in my lower legs and feet and my arms.  Could this is from the type 2 diabetes I have?
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291531 tn?1193610693
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi,
I apologize for not writing sooner. Your question did not appear in que until today, so I am very sorry about the delay.

Numbness and tingling in hands and feet can certainly come from diabetes, especially if it is longstanding and/or not well controlled. However the sudden onset that you described suggests that other causes should also be investigated. The best way to know is to be seen by a neurologist who can not only evauate you with some nerve tests to determine if this is diabetic neuropathy, but also investigate other causes(vertebral disc disease etc) that may be the culprit.

Good luck and take care.
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Avatar universal
Hi, I too am type 2 ,diagnosed abt 6yrs ago with what might be considered just a bit over borderline at the time. Now, with watching my diet, exercising and loseing abt 20 lbs. I am off meds. Had been on Avandia but when the news came out as to it possibly affecting the heart, I stopped it as have MVP & High Cholesterol & Low Thyroid.  There is also Stroke and Heart Attack in my parents and farther back.  
Recently changed Drs. and this one is willing to let me use the above mentioned as long as my averages are good.  My avg now is 99.
     My previous Dr. slapped me right on meds , not giving me a chance to see what i could do for myself which , after some time spent in researching and learning as much as i could abt Diabetes,  I came to disagree with.
  The new Drs. comment was " Why in the world did he have you on that ? "  I think the older Drs. are so set in their ways and used to certin treatment, that they don't consider anything else.
   I have burning in my feet and toes but tests a couple of years ago were negative for Neuropathy.  Also have back problems and " think " it must come from that as a lot of damage to nerves in lower back.  Lots of aches and pains so would be hard for me to determine where they come from.
   Do you walk or exercise?  I am now reading a book put out by Prevention Magazine called  Diabetes 2008  Walking Fit.  It is very informative and if you don't walk now you will feel a need to by the time you read it. It is beneficial in so many areas of health.
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Avatar universal
Hi Rose,

If the tingling/numbness sensations started about the same time in your legs, feet & arms, I doubt it the diabetes is the primary culprit.  This sounds like a pinched nerve or some type of mechanical issue.

Diabetes that is uncontrolled can cause those symptoms, but I wouldn't expect to hear someone say all this started at once from diabetes.

You don't say if you've minimized your risks for the other family problems ... heart disease, stroke & cancer.  I'm not a doctor, but if you were my friend I'd say, 'Ask your primary doctor about assessing these risks.  Is the diabetes controlled?  What is your lipid profile? (for your cholesterol breakdown)  Have you had a stress test & are you on an exercise program coordinated with your doctor?  Are you screened for the family cancer risk?'

Tests are annoying, expensive& time-consuming. Ugh!  But prevention is much less painful than treating these risks.  And it is empowering to take good care of yourself.  

I speak from experience ... I'm 46 years old, but I've spent more than a year of my life as a hospital patient.  I've been treated for so many things - and I've learned a lot, but  I'm not a doc & it sounded like you could use one.  You don't want the tingling to progress to not being able to use your arms, legs & feet as you'd like.  Tingling & numbness sound reversible to me.

Good luck!  
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