Question:
I have a controlled seizure disorder, and have recently been having some new
symptoms that I'm thinking are not part of the epilepsy thing, but are
caused by another problem. Maybe I'm grasping at straws, but since my
grandmother had diabetes, I was wondering if anyone had an opinion about the
following symptoms:
- tingling in right arm,
- mental confusion, maybe a dream-like state, although conscious,
- a feeling of needing to go to sleep.
The most intense part lasts about 15 minutes, with mental faculties impaired
at a decreasing level for up to an hour. Intensity of these episodes varies
considerably.
Answer:
If you grandmother had Type 2 diabetes, then there's a good chance you may have the gene.
It runs in families. On the other hand, if she was Type 1, then it's
less likely, as it doesn't run in families.
One of the complications of diabetes is peripheral neuropathy which can
cause tingling, numbness or pain as the nerves sicken and die. But it
usualy starts in the feet. It's possible for it to start elsewhere,
but generally it would be in both arms. It would also most likely start
in the fingers and work up up the arms only as it worsens.
The mental confusion and sleepiness could be related to tiredness.
Those things can result from high blood glucose, but would be most
noticeable after meals, especially high carbohydrate meals, potatoes,
bread, rice, sugars, etc.
If this is diabetes related, then you would probably notice other
symptoms. You would notice increased thirst. You would be thirsty
more often. And paired with this, you would noticed increases frequency
of urinating. You would probably have to awaken several times a night
to urinate.
You might have an increased craving for sweets. And you might find
yourself losing weight without trying or no matter how much you eat.
It's possible that you may have recently noticed your vision has gotten
a bit blurry or that you need new glasses.
