October 21, 2025

Persistent burning or tingling in your feet isn’t just annoying—it may be shouting a loud warning! Dr. Sudhir Kumar, a neurologist from Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, trained at CMC Vellore, reveals two big villains behind this pain: diabetes and vitamin B12 deficiency. First up, diabetes! When blood sugar stays high for a long time, it can damage small nerves, especially in the feet. This trouble is called diabetic neuropathy. Imagine little electrical shocks or numbness starting at your toes and slowly climbing up your legs—doctors call this the “stocking pattern.” Sometimes, even people with prediabetes feel these creepy crawling sensations. If you or your loved ones experience such pain, tests like HbA1C or fasting blood sugar can confirm if sugar is the culprit. Next on the list is vitamin B12 deficiency, a sneaky cause hitting many vegetarians, vegans, or those taking medicines like metformin. When B12 runs low, nerves cry out with pins-and-needles feelings and numbness, sometimes even causing trouble with balance. The fix? A simple blood test can spot the shortage, and doctors can help bring those B12 levels back up. Dr. Kumar says, “The best way to fight this pain is to treat what causes it.” That means managing blood sugar well or topping up vitamin B12. Meanwhile, medicines like gabapentin or pregabalin can help calm the nerve signals and ease the burning pain. But what about spotting high blood sugar itself? It wears many faces—some folks feel very thirsty, visit the bathroom often, lose weight without trying, get tired easily, or see blurry vision. Others might notice slow-healing wounds or infections around the skin and gums. Remember, early detection can save your nerves—and your precious feet! So, don’t ignore those burning sensations. Listen to your feet’s SOS and get checked. With the right care, you can kick the pain to the curb and step lively again!

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Tags: Burning feet, Diabetic neuropathy, Vitamin b12 deficiency, Blood sugar, Nerve pain,