How common is numbness and tingling in type 2 diabetes?

Persistently raised blood glucose can damage small blood vessels and nerves over time. This may cause diabetic peripheral neuropathy, with tingling, burning, reduced feeling, or pain in the feet and lower legs. Hands can also be affected, and symptoms may occur on both sides.

Reduced sensation can make it harder to notice a blister, cut, pressure area, or burn. The timing and distribution vary, and numbness can have causes unrelated to diabetes. A clinical assessment is useful for checking the nerves, circulation, skin, footwear, and other possible contributors.

Check your feet every day for breaks in the skin, redness, swelling, blisters, or changes in colour. Wash and dry them carefully, avoid walking barefoot, choose shoes that fit comfortably, and test water with an area of normal sensation before bathing.

Keep diabetes appointments and take prescribed treatment as directed. Tell your clinician about new tingling, burning, balance trouble, or reduced feeling. They can review glucose management, medicines, foot risk, and options for nerve discomfort.

Get prompt medical advice for a foot wound, spreading redness, warmth, swelling, discharge, a new colour change, or pain with reduced sensation. Arrange review for worsening numbness, falls, weakness, or trouble walking.

Call emergency services for sudden numbness with facial drooping, one-sided weakness, speech difficulty, confusion, or severe imbalance. Diabetes does not explain every sudden neurological symptom, so urgent assessment matters.

Do my symptoms fit diabetic nerve damage or another cause? How often should my feet and sensation be checked? Which skin changes need same-day advice, and how can nerve discomfort be treated safely?