What Causes Numbness In Foot Of A Type 2 Diabetic Patient?

Posted on Mon, 9 Feb 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 9 Feb 2015 Answered on

Thu, 12 Mar 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I have numbness in my right foot. I also have Type II Diabetes and Low Back Pain / Stenophis) Could either or both cause this?

Answered by Dr. Noble Zachariah (19 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Both can but diabetes more likely

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome to HCM and thanks for your query.
Diabetes causes peripheral neuropathy which is classically a glove and stocking type. It can start in one leg before the other but with time both legs develop the numbness.
The lumbar canal stenosis symptoms include pain, weakness, and tingling of the legs, which may radiate down the leg to the feet. Additional symptoms in the legs may be fatigue, heaviness, weakness, a sensation of tingling, pricking, or numbness and leg cramps, as well as bladder symptoms. Symptoms are most commonly bilateral and symmetrical, but they may be unilateral; leg pain is usually more troubling than back pain.
If you do a nerve conduction study, it will be diagnostic.
Take care,

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar