Do your legs hurt when you have diabetes?

High blood sugar (glucose) can injure nerves throughout the body. Diabetic neuropathy most often damages nerves in the legs and feet. Depending on the affected nerves, diabetic neuropathy symptoms include pain and numbness in the legs, feet and hands.


Where is diabetic leg pain located?

Long-term numbness or a tingling feeling in the legs and feet may be due to conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS), diabetes, peripheral artery disease, or fibromyalgia. The sensation may be felt in the whole leg, below the knee, or in different areas of the foot.

How do you know if diabetes is affecting your legs?

Check for blisters, cuts, cracks, sores, or any wound on the surface of your legs and feet. Daily visual inspection of your legs and feet are a must if you are a diabetic. You'll want to look out for discolored areas – whether red, white, or other – and corns or calluses.


How do you stop diabetic leg pain?

You can also take actions to ease your leg pain that include:
  1. going for short, frequent walks.
  2. using a stationary bike to increase blood flow.
  3. soaking your legs in a warm bath.
  4. using a bed cradle at night to protect your legs from discomfort caused by bedding.


Do legs ache with diabetes?

Diabetes can cause leg soreness and pain. Over time, high blood sugar damages the nerves around your muscles. This nerve damage is called “diabetic neuropathy.” Diabetic neuropathy causes diabetic leg pain and soreness, which can make it hard for you to walk and stay active.


Diabetics and Leg Problems



What is diabetic leg pain like?

Tingling or burning feeling. Sharp pains or cramps. Muscle weakness. Extreme sensitivity to touch — for some people, even a bedsheet's weight can be painful.

When should I be worried about leg pain?

Call for immediate medical help or go to an emergency room if you:
  • Have a leg injury with a deep cut or exposed bone or tendon.
  • Are unable to walk or put weight on your leg.
  • Have pain, swelling, redness or warmth in your calf.
  • Hear a popping or grinding sound at the time of a leg injury.


Can diabetic leg pain be cured?

Diabetic neuropathy has no known cure. The goals of treatment are to: Slow progression. Relieve pain.


Is walking good for diabetic leg pain?

Aims/hypothesis: Walking is recommended as an adjunct therapy to diet and medication in diabetic patients, with the aim of improving physical fitness, glycaemic control and body weight reduction.

Can diabetic legs be cured?

Although there is no cure for diabetic neuropathy, use of these treatments can improve painful symptoms and prevent complications. (See "Management of diabetic neuropathy".) Control blood sugar levels — An important treatment for diabetic neuropathy is to control blood sugar levels.

Can a diabetic leg be saved?

They've saved many toes and limbs – including Sammon's feet – from the grip of diabetes. “Most people with diabetes are less afraid of dying than they are of losing their leg,” says Alex Reyzelman, DPM, co-director of the center.


Which pain reliever is best for diabetics?

Drugs such as Acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen can all be used to ease mild to moderate pain associated with diabetic neuropathy.

Can too much sugar cause leg pain?

The high sugars and poor blood vessel health have been implicated in diabetic leg pain (neuropathy). Sometimes, there may be entrapment or compression of the nerves of the lower limb beneath the bony structures. This condition is called femoral nerve entrapment, the tarsal tunnel syndrome may also cause leg pain.

What are the signs of diabetes in a woman?

Symptoms
  • Feeling more thirsty than usual.
  • Urinating often.
  • Losing weight without trying.
  • Presence of ketones in the urine. ...
  • Feeling tired and weak.
  • Feeling irritable or having other mood changes.
  • Having blurry vision.
  • Having slow-healing sores.


How do you make leg pain go away?

Home Care
  1. Rest as much as possible.
  2. Elevate your leg.
  3. Apply ice for up to 15 minutes. Do this 4 times per day, more often for the first few days.
  4. Gently stretch and massage cramping muscles.
  5. Take over-the-counter pain medicines such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.


Why do my legs hurt?

Most leg pain results from wear and tear, overuse, or injuries in joints or bones or in muscles, ligaments, tendons or other soft tissues. Some types of leg pain can be traced to problems in your lower spine. Leg pain can also be caused by blood clots, varicose veins or poor circulation.

How do you know if your blood sugar is high?

Symptoms of hyperglycaemia
  1. increased thirst and a dry mouth.
  2. needing to pee frequently.
  3. tiredness.
  4. blurred vision.
  5. unintentional weight loss.
  6. recurrent infections, such as thrush, bladder infections (cystitis) and skin infections.


How does high blood sugar make you feel?

Symptoms of high blood sugar

feeling very thirsty. peeing a lot. feeling weak or tired. blurred vision.

How can diabetics strengthen their legs?

Take a "brisk" or quick walk every day for 30 minutes or more. Walk for 45 to 60 minutes if you need to lose weight. Stair Exercise: Holding a handrail for support, walk quickly up stairs on the balls or front part of your feet 5 or 10 times. Calf stretch: Keep your legs stiff and feet flat on the floor.

Is Tylenol good for diabetics?

Tylenol does not have an effect on blood glucose levels. Regarding the need to take a medication with or without food, follow the standard recommendations on the package insert.


What illnesses cause aching legs?

What's Causing Your Leg Pain?
  • Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) 1/15. With this condition, your limbs -- typically your legs -- don't get enough blood. ...
  • Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) 2/15. ...
  • Peripheral Neuropathy. 3/15. ...
  • Electrolyte Imbalance. 4/15. ...
  • Spinal Stenosis. 5/15. ...
  • Sciatica. 6/15. ...
  • Arthritis. 7/15. ...
  • Pulled Muscle. 8/15.


What happens if your leg hurts everyday?

But if that pain persists, it may be time to talk to your doctor. Chronic leg pain is a primary symptom of peripheral artery disease (PAD), a common and treatable condition in which narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to your limbs and can threaten your heart.

Does leg pain indicate heart problems?

Leg Pain Can Indicate Risk for a Heart Attack or Stroke

Peripheral artery disease that causes leg pain can be indicative of heart issues. People that have PAD are at a higher risk of having a stroke or heart attack. This could be a sign that the coronary arteries are blocked and the blood flow is reduced.


What are the first signs of diabetes in feet?

Tingling, burning, or pain in your feet. Loss of sense of touch or ability to feel heat or cold very well. A change in the shape of your feet over time. Loss of hair on your toes, feet, and lower legs.

How can I lower my blood sugar quickly?

When your blood sugar level gets too high — known as hyperglycemia or high blood glucose — the quickest way to reduce it is to take fast-acting insulin. Exercising is another fast, effective way to lower blood sugar. In some cases, you should go to the hospital instead of handling it at home.