That pins-and-needles feeling when your foot falls asleep? For millions of Americans, it’s more than a temporary nuisance—it could be a sign of an underdiagnosed nerve disorder. However, diabetes isn’t the sole risk factor for neuropathy. It could also be an early warning sign of other underlying, undiagnosed disorders, according to Dr.
Norman Latov, a neurologist and director of the Peripheral Neuropathy Clinical and Research Center at Weill Cornell Medicine. These include thyroid or kidney disease, B vitamin deficiency, rheumatological or autoimmune conditions, toxic exposure, or infections like Lyme disease, hepatitis C, or syphilis. In some cases, it may even indicate cancer if a tumor is growing close to a nerve and putting pressure on it.
“Any delay in diagnosis and treatment would allow these conditions to progress and cause permanent damage, not just to the nerves,” Dr. Latov added. The study analyzed data from 169 patients at an outpatient clinic in Flint, Michigan, predominantly serving Medicaid recipients.
Nearly 70 percent of the participant group were non-Hispanic black. Half had diabetes, 67 percent were diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, and about half had a household income below $20,000 per year. Dr.
Latov called this important research, drawing attention to the need for better neuropathy recognition and treatment, “particularly the association with metabolic syndrome, a treatable condition.” The vaccines received included one from AstraZeneca, .
