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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Weakness In Legs And Being Diagnosed With Diabetes?

hi, my father is suffering from diabetes from last 15 years. He had been having weakness in his legs from last few years. In june 2008 he fell down from couple of stairs due to misbalance & suffered fracture in hip. Due to this he was on bed rest for six months but after recovering again fell down & suffered fracture in one of the feet. Post that he is able to walk but he does it carefully since he is not able to walk freely as he tends to miscalculate his step.He is 66 yrs in age & also suffered mild heart attack 8 years back. Pls suggest what is the reason for this weakness in legs & how this can be cured.
Mon, 13 Oct 2014
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Dietitian & Nutritionist,  's  Response
Since, your father is a diabetic and also a senior citizen, he must take care while walking as fall fractures are very common in advancing age alongwith a history of long standing diabetes. You haven' t mentioned anything about his blood sugar control. How well has his diabetes been in control over the past 15 years? If his blood glucose control has not been satisfactory, due to long standing uncontrolled diabetes people develop complications of diabetes like heart disease and neuropathy. as you say he has suffered from a mild heart attack, you must consult a cardiologist to rule out presence of peripheral vascular disease which might be responsible for weakness in legs. If he is having neuropathy, then that can also be responsible for loss of sensation in feet leading to loss of balance while walking. Is he having the following symptoms?

1. loss of protective sensation in feet.
2. feeling of numbness/tingling/cold feet
3. Any physical changes like skin of the legs or feet, turning dark, scaly, dry, shiny with loss of hair.

If any of these symptoms are present, then it indicates development of neuropathy or nerve damage. Also poor blood supply to the feet can lead to loss of co-ordination and balance leading to fall fractures.
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What Causes Weakness In Legs And Being Diagnosed With Diabetes?

Since, your father is a diabetic and also a senior citizen, he must take care while walking as fall fractures are very common in advancing age alongwith a history of long standing diabetes. You haven t mentioned anything about his blood sugar control. How well has his diabetes been in control over the past 15 years? If his blood glucose control has not been satisfactory, due to long standing uncontrolled diabetes people develop complications of diabetes like heart disease and neuropathy. as you say he has suffered from a mild heart attack, you must consult a cardiologist to rule out presence of peripheral vascular disease which might be responsible for weakness in legs. If he is having neuropathy, then that can also be responsible for loss of sensation in feet leading to loss of balance while walking. Is he having the following symptoms? 1. loss of protective sensation in feet. 2. feeling of numbness/tingling/cold feet 3. Any physical changes like skin of the legs or feet, turning dark, scaly, dry, shiny with loss of hair. If any of these symptoms are present, then it indicates development of neuropathy or nerve damage. Also poor blood supply to the feet can lead to loss of co-ordination and balance leading to fall fractures.