Originally published September 27 2005
Tingling may be a sign of pre-diabetes
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Studies at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that some kinds of numbness, pain, tingling or a burning sensation in the feet can indicate glucose intolerance (also known as pre-diabetes).
Patients who present with idiopathic neuropathy may in fact be experiencing the first signs of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT or "prediabetes").
In a recent study that compared the association between peripheral neuropathy and prediabetes, findings suggested that electrophysiologic features were similar between patients with diagnosed diabetic neuropathy (DN) and those with prediabetes.
In the research, 67 patients enrolled in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded Impaired Glucose Tolerance Neuropathy (IGTN) Study underwent nerve conductions studies as well as a series of other electrodiagnostic neuropathy testing.
These patients were compared to 52 patients with diabetic neuropathy and 42 with diabetes but no neuropathy who are participating in another NIH funded study.
The findings showed that the electrophysiologic characteristics were similar between the IGTN and DN patients.
All of the prediabetic patients presented initially with numbness, pain, tingling or a burning sensation in the feet and, at times, also in the fingers.
A. Gordon Smith of the University of Utah, "The neuropathy in patients with IGTN looks the similar to the neuropathy of those patients with diagnosed diabetes mellitus.
Awareness of the symptoms and electrophysiologic similarities can lead to early diagnosis and treatment for prediabetes, which we hope will result in improved neuropathy symptoms."
myDNA.com Comment: "The findings of this study are important because they suggest that patients with newly diagnosed neuropathy should be screened for diabetes," said William Rice MD, Chief Medical Officer of myDNA.com.
He continued, "In addition, the study emphasizes the importance of early glucose control to prevent diabetic neuropathy."
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