diabetes and balance

[Teresa]

can diabetes effect ur balance.

my dad is diabetic as well as me. he is T2 and has been diabetic for 15yrs. He has had his hearing checked and as that is normal the doc has stopped investigating his balance probs.

he has really bad neuropathy on his feet, could this cause a balance problem??

anyone know of any info on this??

[Eri's mom]

My dad is T2 also and has neuropathy really bad...he actually uses a cane. I guess it doesn't help that he is practically deaf also, but I can't honestly answer your question...all I can say is what I have seen w/ my dad. I've always attributed it to the family clutziness.

Hope someone out there has the answers you are looking for!!!

[Dewey]

Hi Teresa,

I'm not sure if Diabetes can affect balance or not (especially if someone has neuropathy - in which case, it may be very possible). However, has your dad seen a neurologist? My Mother-In-Law had Type II Diabetes, and was having balance problems, only to discover she had Parkinson's as well. :( It may be worth looking into, as that was how her Parkinson's was initially discovered. I truly hope that's not his case, and please know that you and your dad are in my heart, thoughts and prayers. Please keep us posted, and I wish you good luck on this. :)

[JasonSmithMT]

Teresa -

While it is not the only possible reason for inbalance, yes, neuropathy can indeed cause balance problems.

You can find several articles on the subject by doing an internet search. For example: Neuropathy Linked With Loss of Balance (http://www.neurologyreviews.com/aug00/nr_aug00_lossofbalance.html).

Jason

[stooge4444]

I'm not sure but I do loose balance sometimes........I also run into things........I hurt myself at least twice a day............

I'm only 22 but I think it has to do with my 6'4" long body and size 15 feet...........

[Teresa]

dad went to see his doc. He said if it were Parkinsons current methods is to not treat as treatment does nothing to help. But doc doesnt think it is Parkinsons.

Doc is gonna investigate further and has done a vit B12 test as apparently that can effect balance if ur deficient... he has also been told to take better care of his diabetes cos its nt in good control. He has increased his meds to 2 gliclazide a day and he has to go back in 3 months.

[Lorna]

Whats his eyes like? Could that have something to do with it?

[garywh]

I have a site that I constantly go to, to check stuff out, so thought I would put a link here for other people to have a look at. It is not nice what can happen to us, but at least we can be informed. I also have trouble with balance, and like it says in site, that muscle wasting is part of it.

Anyways here it is.

http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/neuropathies/

Gary

[Teresa]

his eyes arent good. he has had two cataracts removed earlier this year!! there aint much that works properley anymore :(