A 12-year-old boy with Type 1 Diabetes complains of tingling and numbness in his feet. His mother mentions that his blood sugar levels have been high recently. What could be the possible issue, and what is the next step?
Tingling and numbness in the feet of this patient with recent poor glycemic control could suggest the development of diabetic neuropathy, a complication of diabetes that damages nerves. However, given his age and relatively short duration of diabetes, other causes of peripheral neuropathy should also be considered. The next step would be a thorough examination, including a neurological exam, to better characterize his symptoms, and potentially, additional tests to rule out other causes. The primary treatment will be to improve blood glucose control.