Can diabetes cause shaky legs?

Author: Dr. Jake Adams IV  |  Last update: Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Secondary restless leg usually affects people over 40, and is associated with a number of reasons that can worsen symptoms, including: Chronic health conditions – such as diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, iron deficiency, Parkinson's disease, kidney failure and an underactive thyroid gland.

What are the symptoms of diabetic shaking?

Signs and symptoms of hypoglycaemia can include:
  • feeling hungry.
  • sweating.
  • dizziness.
  • tiredness (fatigue)
  • blurred vision.
  • trembling or shakiness.
  • going pale.
  • fast pulse or palpitations.

What are the symptoms of diabetes in the legs?

Depending on the affected nerves, diabetic neuropathy symptoms include pain and numbness in the legs, feet and hands. It can also cause problems with the digestive system, urinary tract, blood vessels and heart. Some people have mild symptoms. But for others, diabetic neuropathy can be quite painful and disabling.

What does a diabetic leg look like?

Diabetes-related dermopathy looks like small, round pink, reddish or brown patches on your skin. They can look like scars and be indented. They're generally 1 centimeter to 2.5 centimeters in size. The patches are harmless and don't itch, ooze liquid or cause pain.

What are the three most common symptoms of undiagnosed diabetes?

Some of the symptoms of type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes are:
  • Feeling more thirsty than usual.
  • Urinating often.
  • Losing weight without trying.
  • Presence of ketones in the urine. ...
  • Feeling tired and weak.
  • Feeling irritable or having other mood changes.
  • Having blurry vision.
  • Having slow-healing sores.

Hi9 | Can Diabetes cause weakness in the legs | Dr K.J.Reddy | Sr Orthopedic Surgeon

Can diabetes make you feel jittery?

Initial signs and symptoms of diabetic hypoglycemia include: Looking pale (pallor) Shakiness. Dizziness or lightheadedness.

What are 5 signs of a diabetic emergency?

Check for signs and symptoms.
  • Trouble Breathing*
  • Fast or deep breathing.
  • Seizures.
  • Confusion.
  • Unresponsiveness.
  • Cool, clammy skin.
  • Fast heartbeat.
  • Appearing intoxicated.

How do I stop diabetic shaking?

If you have diabetes and get symptoms of low blood sugar (a hypo) or your blood sugar is below 4mmol/L: Eat or drink something that will raise your blood sugar quickly, such as a small glass of fruit juice or sugary fizzy drink, 5 glucose or dextrose tablets, 4 large jelly babies, or 2 tubes of glucose gel.

What are wobbly legs a symptom of?

Weakness in the legs can be caused by many different conditions, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or called Lou Gehrig's disease), bulging/herniated (slipped) disc, Cauda equina syndrome, Guillain-Barré syndrome, autoimmune diseases, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, peripheral neuropathy, pinched ...

Can diabetes make you feel unsteady?

Type 2 diabetes occurs when a person's blood sugar levels are too high. This can cause dizziness or a feeling of being woozy, lightheaded, or unstable. High blood sugar levels can also lead to dehydration, which may contribute to dizziness.

Can high blood sugar make your legs feel weak?

The main symptoms of diabetic amyotrophy are: Weakness of the lower legs, buttocks or hip. Muscle wasting, usually in the front of the thigh, which follows within weeks.

What do shaky legs indicate?

In many cases, the underlying condition is not serious. However, leg shaking can be a symptom of some very serious medical conditions if accompanied by other symptoms. These include Parkinson's disease, neuropathy, and anxiety. Delaying treatment allows the problem to get worse.

At what stage of diabetes does neuropathy start?

Significant nerve problems (clinical neuropathy) can develop within the first 10 years after a diabetes diagnosis. The risk of developing neuropathy increases the longer you have diabetes. About half of people with diabetes have some form of neuropathy.

What happens when A1C is too high?

A high hemoglobin A1C , or A1C, shows your body has difficulty regulating glucose levels. In those without diabetes, A1C levels should stay below 5.7%. An A1C above 9% increases the risk of long-term diabetes complications like blindness, nerve damage, and kidney failure. 2 Under 7% is considered good diabetes control.

What should diabetics drink first thing in the morning?

Water. Plain water is the best drink for everyone, but especially for people living with diabetes. It's naturally hydrating and free of carbohydrates and calories.

What is a diabetic crash?

When the body has more sugar than it's used to, it rapidly produces insulin in an attempt to keep the levels consistent. This causes blood glucose to decrease, which results in a sudden drop in energy levels, also known as hypoglycemia, or a sugar crash.

At what blood sugar do you feel shaky?

At some time, most people with diabetes experience the sweating and shakiness that occurs when blood glucose levels fall below 70 mg/dl — a condition known as hypoglycemia. The average person with type 1 diabetes may experience symptoms of low blood glucose up to two times a week.

Why do diabetics wake up at 3am?

The cause of the dawn phenomenon isn't clear. Some researchers believe the overnight release of certain hormones that happens naturally increases insulin resistance. That causes blood sugar to rise. The hormones are called counter-regulatory hormones because they have an effect that opposes the effect of insulin.

What is the rule of 15 for diabetes?

The 15-15 rule

Have 15 grams of carbs, then wait 15 minutes. Check your blood sugar again. If it's still less than 70 mg/dL, repeat this process. Keep repeating these steps until your blood sugar is back up in your target range.

What is often mistaken for diabetes?

The condition is often called latent autoimmune diabetes of adults, or LADA for short. Patients with it can be misdiagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and spend months or years trying to manage the wrong condition.

What is a diabetic belly?

But that doesn't mean abdominal weight gain should be ignored. It can be an early sign of so-called "diabetic belly," a build-up of visceral fat in your abdomen which may be a symptom of type 2 diabetes and can increase your chances of developing other serious medical conditions.

Can you smell if someone has diabetes?

Diabetes: Diabetes is one of the most well-known health conditions linked to changes in body odor. People with uncontrolled diabetes can experience a fruity or acetone-like smell (think nail polish remover) on their breath or skin.

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