My 73-year old husband has adult diabetes. He’s had it about three years now. He’s starting to mention back pain with numbness and tingling down his right leg. Could this be part of the diabetes or something else?

A recent study of older men found that neck or back pain with numbness and tingling is more common among men with a history of diabetes mellitus (DM). This is probably because DM can cause clogging of the arteries, a condition called peripheral artery disease (PAD).

This is only one of many possible causes of back and leg pain in older adults. Seek medical advice and testing for these symptoms. At the very least, a baseline could be established. It will help you keep track of the big picture and a general trend of his symptoms. Any lasting change (better or worse) can be treated sooner than later.