Numbness in Feet: What to Do?
Q: My spouse was identified with diabetes almost a year back. In the beginning he was experiencing numbness in his feet. Over the previous couple of months, he began having pain too, in some cases as far up his leg as his calf. What can we do to help these symptoms? I have checked out that vitamin E and even flaxseed oil benefit the flow. Would those be helpful?
A: Your other half might have a condition that must be treated with doctor-prescribed medication, and a proper medical diagnosis is important to figuring out how to treat what he is experiencing. The most likely reason for his symptoms is either peripheral arterial disease (PAD), which is because of bad circulation, or diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), due to nerve damage. Here are some questions that would assist your healthcare company with a medical diagnosis: Does your husband have pain in his legs when he walks? (If so, how far can he walk before he must stop to rest?) Do his feet appear red or blue in color when they are decreased, and does the inflammation disappear with elevation of his legs? Are his feet and legs cold? Does he hang his leg over the side of the bed in the evening to ease pain? Is only one leg affected by pain, and is this leg swollen, warm to the touch, and reddish-brown in color? A “Yes” to any of these concerns may suggest PAD, and your other half needs to see his doctor instantly if that is the case.
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a condition brought on by long-term high blood sugar levels, which causes nerve damage. Some people will not have any symptoms. However for others symptoms might be incapacitating. In between 60 and 70 percent of people with diabetes have some type of neuropathy, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Peripheral neuropathy, the most typical type of diabetic neuropathy, affects the legs, feet, toes, hands, and arms.
If he is not having the above symptoms, then he may be suffering from neuropathy. DPN is a crucial quality-of-life concern for half of all individuals with diabetes. The pain is frequently explained by patients as tingling, burning, sharp, shooting, and lightning-like. Other unpleasant symptoms consist of numbness, sensations of feet and legs being “asleep,” or prickling or crawling experiences. However, not all peripheral neuropathy is caused by diabetes. The medical diagnosis of DPN can be made only after a cautious scientific examination. All individuals with diabetes should be screened yearly for DPN.
Also read: Foot Complications (Diabetic Foot)
Although there is currently no remedy for this complication of diabetes, ideal glucose control helps to avoid DPN. A number of research studies suggest that avoiding severe variations in blood glucose helps also. It’s likewise suggested that individuals with either condition enhance cholesterol and blood pressure, do not smoke, and avoid extreme alcohol consumption. Lots of people will require a medication to handle their painful symptoms; prevent trying an unproven method or treatment, such as vitamin E or flaxseed oil. (Always consult your doctor prior to taking any supplement to make sure it does not interfere with your medications.) A correct medical diagnosis needs to be established prior to your partner can move on with the right treatment.
