The human body is complex and when something is wrong with our health, there are a number of different symptoms or warning signs that can arise. One of the most common is tingling or numbness in the hands, feet, or both. While it’s no doubt an alarming symptom, WebMD assures that it can sometimes be benign or temporary.
On the other hand, there are times when tingling or numbness in the hands or feet is severe, chronic, or episodic. Any kind of numbness is typically a sign of either an irritation or damage to one or more nerves. Most of the time, these nerves are the peripheral nerves which are “nerves that connect the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body,” says VeryWell Health. There are a number of different conditions that can result in damage to the peripheral nerves. We advise seeking a medical evaluation for any persistent tingling or numbness in the hands. But until then, here’s a look at a number of possible reasons for numbness and/or tingling in the hands…
Diabetes
Many people have type 2 diabetes and don’t even realize it, says Prevention after talking with Rob Danoff, DO, director of family medicine at Philadelphia’s Aria Health System. This is because the symptoms are sometimes subtle. If something like diabetes goes untreated, hand numbness can develop as a diabetes-related nerve damage. In fact, diabetes is one of the most common causes of peripheral neuropathy (damage to the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord). WebMD states that diabetes is responsible for 30-percent of all peripheral neuropathy cases. In many cases, tingling in the hands is one of the first signs of diabetes.
People who suffer from diabetic neuropathy will experience tingling that begins in either one or both feet that travels up the legs, and then into the hands and arms. The source also notes that about two thirds of people who suffer from diabetes also have mild to severe forms of nerve damage.