Symptoms
Numbness and Tingling: When to See a Doctor and When to Call 911
Call 911 if numbness comes with weakness, confusion, slurred speech, vision changes or loss of bladder or bowel control. See a doctor soon for tingling that is new, spreading, or lasting. Diabetes, low B12, too much B6, alcohol and medicines are common causes. A supplement such as NervoMax does not replace finding the cause.
Written by the NervoMax editorial teamUpdated · 8 min read
Emergency
When is numbness and tingling an emergency?
When it arrives with other warning signs. Sudden numbness can be a sign of stroke or another serious problem (MedlinePlus, Numbness).
Weakness or trouble moving, confusion, slurred speech, vision changes, trouble walking, or loss of bladder or bowel control (MedlinePlus, Numbness).
Numbness after a head, neck or back injury also needs emergency care (MedlinePlus, Numbness).
Timing
When should you see a doctor for tingling hands or feet?
Book a visit when tingling has no clear cause, keeps coming back, or spreads. Do not wait months to mention it (MedlinePlus, Numbness).
| What you notice | What to do |
|---|---|
| Numbness with weakness, confusion, speech or vision changes | Call 911 |
| Loss of bladder or bowel control | Call 911 |
| New tingling with no clear cause | Call your provider |
| Tingling that spreads or gets worse | Call your provider |
| Tingling with diabetes, or a foot sore that will not heal | Call your provider (NIDDK, Foot care) |
| Brief tingling after sitting on a leg | Usually passes; mention it if it keeps happening |
Causes
What causes numbness and tingling?
There are more than 100 types of nerve damage. Diabetes is the leading cause in the U.S. (NINDS, Neuropathy).
Diabetes
High blood sugar harms nerves, usually in the feet and legs first (NIDDK, Diabetic neuropathy).
Low vitamin B12
Common with metformin, acid reducers and vegan diets (NIH ODS, Vitamin B12). See B12 and tingling.
Too much vitamin B6
Excess B6 from supplements can cause numbness itself (NIH ODS, Vitamin B6). See B6 and nerve damage.
Alcohol and toxins
Heavy drinking and some toxins damage nerves over time (NINDS, Neuropathy).
Medicines
Chemotherapy and some other drugs can cause tingling (NINDS, Neuropathy) (MedlinePlus, Numbness).
Pressure and brain causes
Carpal tunnel squeezes a wrist nerve. MS and stroke affect the brain or spinal cord (MedlinePlus, Numbness).
Diabetes
Does diabetes cause tingling in the feet?
Often, yes. About one-third to one-half of people with diabetes have nerve damage, usually in the feet and legs (NIDDK, Diabetic neuropathy).
Numb feet can miss a blister or cut. That is why foot care matters (NIDDK, Foot care):
- Check both feet every day, including the soles
- Wear shoes and socks, even at home
- Get a foot exam at least once a year
- Call your provider about any sore that does not heal
At the visit
What does a doctor check for numbness and tingling?
Your history, a physical exam and often blood tests. The goal is to find the cause, not just name the symptom (NINDS, Neuropathy).
- Feeling, reflexes and strength in your feet and hands
- Blood sugar and vitamin B12 levels
- Your medicines, alcohol use and supplements
- Sometimes nerve tests that measure how signals travel (NINDS, Neuropathy)
Bring a log. A 62-year-old on metformin who writes down "both soles, worse at night, 6 out of 10" gives the doctor a head start.
Symptom log
How do you keep a symptom log for tingling?
Write a few lines a day for two weeks. Follow these four steps.
- 01
Write down where it tingles
Name the exact spot: toes, soles, fingertips, one hand or both. Note if it is on one side only.
- 02
Note when it happens
Morning, night, after sitting, after walking. Rate it 0 to 10 and note how long it lasts.
- 03
List every pill and vitamin
Write each medicine and supplement with its dose. Include B-complex, magnesium and NervoMax if you use them.
- 04
Bring the log to your doctor
Two weeks of notes plus your bottles give your doctor far more to work with than memory alone.
Supplements
Where do supplements like NervoMax fit?
After the cause is found, and only with your doctor's knowledge. NervoMax is a dietary supplement, not a treatment for neuropathy or diabetes.
Its label says "help support healthy nerve function." It contains vitamin B6 in an amount the label does not print. If your tingling gets worse, stop and call your doctor. Details are on NervoMax side effects.
If your doctor agrees, the label dose is 1 or 2 capsules a day with water. The dial shows how that fits a day with a foot check.
- With breakfast, about 8:00
Take 1 or 2 capsules with an 8 oz glass of water. A fixed meal makes it easy to remember.
- Or with dinner
If mornings are rushed, dinner works too. The label sets no time of day.
- Move your feet
Short daily walks help circulation in the feet and legs. Check your feet if you have diabetes.
- Sleep
Tired, cold or cramped limbs often feel worse at night. Note when tingling shows up.
The label says 1 or 2 capsules daily; timing is a suggestion. Daily foot checks matter if you have diabetes (NIDDK, Foot care).
Sources
Where do these facts come from?
Each claim above links to one of these public sources.
- Vitamin B6: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, 2023.RDA 1.3 mg (ages 19-50), 1.7 mg men and 1.5 mg women 51+. U.S. upper limit 100 mg a day. High doses can cause severe sensory neuropathy; reports exist below 500 mg a day. EFSA set 12 mg a day in 2023.
- Vitamin B12: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, 2025.RDA 2.4 mcg; no upper limit. Deficiency can cause numbness and tingling in hands and feet, even without anemia. Metformin and acid reducers can lower B12.
- Peripheral Neuropathy. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2026.More than 100 types. Diabetes is the leading U.S. cause; others include B12 deficiency, alcohol, toxins, chemotherapy and autoimmune disease.
- Diabetic Neuropathy. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 2018.About one-third to one-half of people with diabetes have peripheral neuropathy, usually in the feet and legs.
- Diabetes & Foot Problems. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 2017.Check feet every day, wear shoes and socks, and have a foot exam at least once a year. Call a provider for a sore that does not heal.
- Numbness and tingling. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, 2025.Causes include B-vitamin problems, diabetes, carpal tunnel, MS, stroke and medicines. Call 911 for numbness with weakness, confusion, slurred speech or loss of bladder control.
FAQ
Numbness and tingling: common questions
When should I worry about numbness and tingling?
Call 911 if numbness comes with weakness, confusion, slurred speech, vision changes or loss of bladder or bowel control. See a doctor for tingling that is new, spreading or does not go away. (MedlinePlus, Numbness)
Can numbness in one arm be a stroke?
It can. Sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body, especially with speech or vision trouble, is a stroke warning sign. Call 911 right away. (MedlinePlus, Numbness)
What is the most common cause of tingling feet?
In the U.S., diabetes is the leading cause of nerve damage, and it usually starts in the feet. Low B12, alcohol and some medicines are other common causes. (NINDS, Neuropathy) (NIDDK, Diabetic neuropathy)
What tests check for nerve damage?
Doctors often start with an exam plus blood tests such as blood sugar and vitamin B12. Nerve tests that measure how signals travel may follow if the cause is unclear. (NINDS, Neuropathy)
Can a supplement fix numbness and tingling?
Only if the supplement corrects the actual cause, such as low B12. NervoMax is not a treatment for neuropathy, and too much B6 can cause tingling itself. Find the cause first. (NIH ODS, Vitamin B6) (NIH ODS, Vitamin B12)
Should I check my feet every day if I have diabetes?
Yes. Daily foot checks catch cuts and blisters that numb feet miss. Wear shoes and socks, get a yearly foot exam, and call about any sore that does not heal. (NIDDK, Foot care)
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Plain-language pages built from the bottle label and linked public health sources such as NIH, FDA and Cochrane.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by Nervomax, a USA authorized NervoMax retailer, not by the manufacturer. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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