Diabetes: Beware of this sign of high blood sugar in your hands and fingers
Diabetic neuropathy is a form of nerve damage that usually affects the legs and feet; and as per the Mayo Clinic, it is seen in as many as 50 per cent diabetes patients. It is of four types, and although the symptoms are mostly mild, there is one type of diabetic neuropathy that comes with severe symptoms – it is mononeuropathy.
Key Highlights
- Across its many forms, type-1, type-2, and gestational – diabetes can be detrimental if blood sugar levels are not brought under control timely.
- Amidst a plethora of symptoms, mononeuropathy can cause tingling and numbing sensations in the hands.
- While type-1 diabetes is a state wherein the body produces no insulin at all, gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy when blood sugar levels go for a toss.
Be it the pre-COVID world or the post-pandemic scenario, diabetes continues to be a major cause of concern. Across its many forms, type-1, type-2, and gestational – diabetes can be detrimental if blood sugar levels are not brought under control timely. What’s worse, this state characterised by insulin resistance, and the shortage is expected to be a major health complication after COVID-19 subsides. Therefore, in order to walk the road of better management, it is essential to know the signs; and the good news about diabetes is that its symptoms are quite prominent, and a major one may appear on your hand and fingers – it is diabetic neuropathy.
What is diabetic neuropathy?
Diabetic neuropathy is a form of nerve damage that usually affects the legs and feet; and as per the Mayo Clinic, it is seen in as many as 50 per cent diabetes patients. It is of four types, and although the symptoms are mostly mild, there is one type of diabetic neuropathy that comes with severe symptoms – it is mononeuropathy.
Amidst a plethora of symptoms, mononeuropathy can cause tingling and numbing sensations in the hands. It can also affect all of the fingers except for the little one. Besides numbing of hands, other symptoms of this condition include:
- Weakness in hands
- Paralysis on a side of the face
- Pain behind one eye
- Double vision
- Focus problems
Which of the symptoms are causes of concern for diabetes patients?
According to the National Health Service of England, some symptoms of diabetes must not be given a miss. Upon noticing these, getting diagnosed holds precedence:
- Unexplained weight loss
- Excessive thirst
- Wounds that do not heal easily
- Blurred vision
- Itchy around genitalia
- Moss of muscle mass
- Fatigue
- Frequent urination at night
Diabetes: The most common form
While type-1 diabetes is a state wherein the body produces no insulin at all, gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy when blood sugar levels go for a toss. However, type-2 diabetes is a lifestyle-oriented condition wherein the body becomes resistant to insulin over time due to excessive intake of sugary foods.
Once diagnosed with type-2 diabetes, a patient may have to take medication for life. However, adopting some dietary and lifestyle changes can prove helpful, for instance:
- Complete abstinence from sugar intake in almost every form
- Limiting intake of fruits to manage fructose consumption
- Getting moderate levels of workout
- Sticking to a low-carbohydrate diet
- Trying to lose weight
These tips can help with better management of blood sugar levels over time. If not controlled timely, it can result in a diabetic coma with symptoms like:
- Heart diseases
- Obesity
- Limb amputation
- Dry mouth
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Shortness of breath
- Weakness
- Concentration problems