Diabetes mellitus, which is commonly referred to as diabetes, results from the body's inability to produce enough insulin to properly regulate blood sugar levels. This lack of insulin can cause abnormally high levels of sugar in the blood, but not enough sugar inside the cells of the body, starving the cells of the energy they need to live. This combination of too much sugar in the blood and too little sugar in the cells causes a variety of symptoms, many of which occur in the legs.
Numbness and Tingling
Diabetes often causes damage to the nerves that connect the legs to the brain, a condition known as peripheral neuropathy. As the nerves become damaged, changes in sensation to the legs may occur. The nerves may stop communicating to the brain, resulting in the complete loss of sensation and a feeling of numbness. Alternatively, the damaged nerves may send incorrect signals to the brain, causing feelings of tingling, burning or pain. These symptoms often begin in the feet and slowly progress up the legs, explains the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Poor Circulation
The blood vessels that supply blood to the legs and feet may also be affected by diabetes. Peripheral vascular disease occurs when fatty deposits accumulate on the inside of the blood vessels and reduce the blood supply, the Federal Citizen Information Center reports. This poor circulation increases the likelihood of developing sores on the feet, which can easily become infected. These sores may cause pain in the legs or feet, unless the patient also has nerve damage that reduces feeling in the legs. The high levels of sugar in the blood prevents the body from effectively fighting infections and slows the healing of wounds.
Cramping
Camping of the legs is also commonly experienced by patients with diabetes. Poor circulation combined with nerve damage can cause painful muscle cramps, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. This cramping may sometimes occur suddenly at night, disrupting sleep.
Amputation
The nerve damage and poor circulation in the legs of diabetic patients sometimes leads to amputation of the feet or legs. When diabetes patietns develops sores on their feet, they may not notice immediately if they also have nerve damage that numbs the affected area. Combined with the inability of the body to fight infection and heal the wound, a small sore may gradually grow into a large ulcer. If the ulcer grows to cover a large area of a foot or leg, doctors may have no choice but to amputate, explains the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library.
References
- The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: Diabetes Mellitus
- Federal Citizen Information Center: Diabetes Complications
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Peripheral Neuropathy Fact Sheet
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Restless Legs Syndrome and Related Disorders
- Medline Plus: Leg Pain
