I am always cold! My feet and hands often feel like those of a dead person, even though I keep my heat at 80 degrees. This started about 10 years ago, when I was 30. I am diabetic, but I follow a very careful diet and watch everything I eat. In fact, I've lost more than 160 pounds — 25 of them recently. I have no other health problems. What do you think it might be?

— Susan, Virginia

There are many possible causes for cold hands and feet. Unfortunately, without knowing more details about your specific case, it's hard to come to a single conclusion. Here are a few possibilities that you can discuss with your doctor.

Do your fingers ever turn blue? This could be a sign of something called Raynaud's phenomenon, a condition in which the blood vessels in the fingers constrict, causing the color change, cold hands, and even pain.

A potentially serious cause of cold hands may be poor circulation, which could be a complication of your diabetes. As you know, having diabetes means that it's critical to follow a healthy diet and exercise program to maintain ideal body weight. Diabetes can also be associated with an underactive thyroid, and this too can cause cold hands.

You also mention that you've recently lost a significant amount of weight. Research has shown that when our caloric intake drops below a critical point, our bodies try to conserve energy by slowing down our metabolic rate, so we produce less heat. Your feet may also feel cold.

I believe a visit to your primary care physician could help you determine the cause of your cold hands and feet and develop an appropriate plan for treatment.

Learn more in the Everyday Health Healthy Living Center.