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What Causes Numbness and Tingling in the Hands and Feet?
Numbness and tingling causes include diabetes, low vitamin B12, heavy alcohol use, a pinched nerve, autoimmune or kidney disease, and some medicines. Diabetes is the leading cause of neuropathy in the U.S. Often no cause is found. A doctor can order simple tests. Nervecept capsules (699 mg, 8 lines) are not a test or a treatment for any of these causes.
Written by the Nervecept label deskUpdated
The short list01
What are the most common causes of numbness and tingling?
The most common cause of numbness and tingling in the feet and hands is nerve damage called peripheral neuropathy, and diabetes is the leading reason for it in the U.S. (NINDS, Peripheral Neuropathy)
Other causes include injury, autoimmune disease, kidney or liver disorders, infections, low vitamin levels, alcohol and some medicines (MedlinePlus, Peripheral Neuropathy) (Mayo Clinic, Peripheral Neuropathy). In some people no cause is ever found (MedlinePlus, Peripheral Neuropathy).
That is why the first step is a cause check, not a capsule. The list below shows six groups of causes and the first move for each.
- DiabetesThe leading cause of neuropathy in the U.S. Blood sugar checks and control come first. (NINDS, Peripheral Neuropathy) (NIDDK, Diabetic Neuropathies)
- Low vitamin B12Can cause numbness even without anemia; metformin may lower B12. A simple blood test checks it. (NIH ODS, Vitamin B12)
- AlcoholA named cause of nerve damage; limiting it is on NINDS's list of steps. (NINDS, Peripheral Neuropathy) (Cleveland Clinic, Peripheral Neuropathy)
- Injury or pressureA pinched or compressed nerve, an old injury or repeated strain can all cause symptoms. (NINDS, Peripheral Neuropathy) (Mayo Clinic, Peripheral Neuropathy)
- Other illnessAutoimmune, kidney or liver disease and infections can each damage nerves. (NINDS, Peripheral Neuropathy)
- Medicines and toxinsSome medicines, including some chemotherapy, can affect nerves. Never stop a prescribed drug on your own. (NINDS, Peripheral Neuropathy)
Sources: NINDS, NIDDK, Mayo Clinic and NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Symptoms often start in the toes and feet and then move up (MedlinePlus, Peripheral Neuropathy).
Diabetes02
Can diabetes cause numbness and tingling in the feet?
Yes, diabetes can cause numbness and tingling in the feet. About one-third to one-half of people with diabetes have peripheral neuropathy (NIDDK, Diabetic Neuropathies).
Over time, high blood glucose and high blood fats such as triglycerides can damage nerves (NIDDK, Diabetic Neuropathies). The feet and legs are hit most often. Some people have no symptoms at all (CDC, Your Feet and Diabetes).
The CDC says you can prevent or delay this kind of damage by keeping blood sugar in your target range, caring for your feet at home, and getting regular foot and eye exams (CDC, Diabetes and Nerve Damage). For most adults the Mayo Clinic gives an A1C goal below 7.0 percent, checked at least twice a year, but your own target may differ (Mayo Clinic, Diabetic Neuropathy).
If you have diabetes and new tingling, tell your care team. They know your numbers and can check them. Our foot care basics guide covers the daily checks.
Vitamins03
Can a vitamin shortage cause tingling in hands and feet?
Yes, a shortage of some vitamins can cause tingling. Low B12 is the best known, and it can cause numbness even when blood counts look normal (NIH ODS, Vitamin B12).
Low B1 and B6 are also listed, and so are low copper and vitamin E (MedlinePlus, Peripheral Neuropathy) (Mayo Clinic, Peripheral Neuropathy). Too much B6 can cause trouble too (NINDS, Peripheral Neuropathy).
A blood test tells you where you stand. Guessing and adding a pill can hide the real cause. Our B12 guide explains who is at risk.
| Nutrient | What the source says | First step |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin B12 | Numbness and tingling can occur, even without anemia (NIH ODS, Vitamin B12) | Ask for a B12 blood test |
| Vitamins B1 and B6 | Low levels are listed as causes of neuropathy (MedlinePlus, Peripheral Neuropathy) | Ask your doctor to check |
| Excess vitamin B6 | Too much is listed as a cause (NINDS, Peripheral Neuropathy) | Check the B6 in every pill you take |
| Copper and vitamin E | Low levels are listed as causes (Mayo Clinic, Peripheral Neuropathy) (Cleveland Clinic, Peripheral Neuropathy) | Ask your doctor to check |
Everyday causes04
How do alcohol, medicines and pressure on a nerve cause tingling?
Long-term heavy alcohol use can injure nerves directly and can also cause vitamin shortages that harm them (Cleveland Clinic, Peripheral Neuropathy).
Some medicines affect nerves too, with chemotherapy as the best known example (NINDS, Peripheral Neuropathy) (Mayo Clinic, Peripheral Neuropathy). Pressure from a tight cast, a long period in one position or an old injury can press on a nerve (NINDS, Peripheral Neuropathy).
Alcohol
NINDS lists limiting alcohol among the lifestyle steps for nerve health (NINDS, Peripheral Neuropathy). Tell your doctor how much you drink.
Medicines
Bring a full list of medicines and supplements to your visit. Do not stop a prescribed drug on your own.
Pressure and injury
A pinched or squeezed nerve often causes symptoms in one hand or one leg, not both. A doctor can tell the difference.
Nervecept: from $49 a bottle30 capsules · 2, 3 or 6 bottles · free US shipping on 3 and 6 · 60-day money-back guarantee
See packsSupplements05
Do peripheral neuropathy supplements work?
For most supplements, there is no evidence of benefit for diabetes or its complications, according to NCCIH (NCCIH, Diabetes and Dietary Supplements).
The one it discusses for neuropathy is alpha-lipoic acid. A 2022 review of 8 studies was inconsistent: 3 reported symptom improvement and 5 did not (NCCIH, Diabetes and Dietary Supplements). Alpha-lipoic acid is not an ingredient in Nervecept.
NCCIH also says not to replace medical diabetes treatment with an unproven product (NCCIH, Diabetes and Dietary Supplements). Supplements are not approved by the FDA before sale (FDA, Q&A on Dietary Supplements).
Nervecept06
Are neuropathy supplements for feet like Nervecept worth trying?
Nervecept is a capsule supplement, and no source we found shows it treats numbness or tingling in the feet. Treat it as an optional extra, never as the plan.
Each capsule lists 699 mg across eight lines. Glucosamine sulfate is 500 mg of that. The research on these lines is mostly about knee osteoarthritis, not nerves (NCCIH, Glucosamine and Chondroitin) (NCCIH, Boswellia) (NCCIH, Turmeric). Two lines have a studied amount we could check, and the label amount is far below it:
The capsule contains shellfish (crayfish). Read the ingredient review and the side effects guide before you decide.
Keep taking prescribed medicine exactly as directed. Never stop or change it for a supplement.
Next steps07
What should you do first if your hands or feet tingle?
Book a visit, write down your symptoms, and ask about blood tests for blood sugar and B12. Early treatment improves the chance of controlling symptoms (MedlinePlus, Peripheral Neuropathy).
Note the pattern
Write down where it happens, when it started and what changes it.
Book a check
Ask about blood sugar, B12, thyroid, kidney and liver tests (Mayo Clinic, Peripheral Neuropathy).
Protect your feet
Look at your feet daily and wear shoes. You may not feel a sore.
Review what you take
Show your pharmacist every medicine and supplement.
These signs mean seeing a doctor soon, not waiting:
- Tingling, weakness or pain that is newTell a doctor early: treating the cause sooner gives nerves the best chance.
- Symptoms that spread or keep returningMoving up the legs or arms, or showing up on both sides, deserves a visit.
- Trouble walking, balance or dropping thingsThese are reasons not to wait.
- A foot sore or blister you did not feelWith diabetes, a sore you cannot feel can become an ulcer fast.
- Sudden weakness, face droop or trouble speakingCall 911 now; this can be a stroke, not a nerve problem.
Signs from MedlinePlus (MedlinePlus, Peripheral Neuropathy), Mayo Clinic (Mayo Clinic, Peripheral Neuropathy) and Cleveland Clinic (Cleveland Clinic, Peripheral Neuropathy). People with diabetes: CDC foot-care steps (CDC, Your Feet and Diabetes).
More in when to see a doctor.
FAQ08
Numbness and tingling questions
Why do my feet tingle at night?
Tingling at night has many possible causes, including diabetes, low B12 and pressure on a nerve. Sources list tingling that starts in the toes and feet as a classic neuropathy sign (MedlinePlus, Peripheral Neuropathy). If it is new or keeps returning, ask a doctor to check.
Is numbness in both feet more serious than in one?
Not always, but both sides call for a check. Symptoms on both sides can point to a body-wide cause such as diabetes or a vitamin shortage (NINDS, Peripheral Neuropathy). A single affected limb more often points to local pressure. Only a doctor can sort this out.
Which tests find the cause of numbness?
Doctors often start with blood tests for blood sugar, vitamins such as B12, and kidney, liver and thyroid function (MedlinePlus, Peripheral Neuropathy) (Mayo Clinic, Peripheral Neuropathy). They may add nerve tests depending on your exam. Ask what each test checks.
Does alcohol cause nerve damage?
Yes, long-term alcohol use can directly injure nerves and can cause vitamin deficiencies that affect them (Cleveland Clinic, Peripheral Neuropathy). Limiting alcohol is on NINDS's list of lifestyle steps (NINDS, Peripheral Neuropathy). Tell your doctor honestly how much you drink.
Should I buy a nerve supplement before seeing a doctor?
No. A supplement can delay finding a treatable cause. NCCIH says there is no evidence of benefit from most supplements for diabetes or its complications (NCCIH, Diabetes and Dietary Supplements). See a doctor first, then ask whether a supplement makes sense.
Who wrote this09
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . See our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a licensed U.S. retail desk for Nervecept, not by the manufacturer or the distributor. We are paid a commission when you buy through our order links.
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