Newbie

[gazzao]

Hi
I’m 59. I was Diagnosed in April this year with type 2. I have worked hard to drop weight and control my life with HbA1c down to 39 in July. Need another check in a couple of months to make sure I’m fully in remission.
I’m really struggling with neuropathy particularly in my legs at night and weakness in my arms. Particularly frustrating as I always played strength linked sports and I’m ex army so finding it hard to accept or deal with the symptoms and it reducing my activity levels. I have tried using a tens machine which gives a little relief to my legs but actually made my arm worse. Getting an appointment from the doctor is nearly impossible and I have been very frustrated with the total lack of support the nhs has offered or given me. Any advice would be welcome as I’m finding sleep difficult

 

[Inka]

Welcome @gazzao 🙂 What was your HbA1C at diagnosis? Sometimes bringing blood sugar down too fast can cause neuropathy but this often recedes.

 

[gazzao]

Welcome @gazzao 🙂 What was your HbA1C at diagnosis? Sometimes bringing blood sugar down too fast can cause neuropathy but this often recedes.

89

 

[Leadinglights]

Have you actually been diagnosed with neuropathy as there could be other causes, vitamin B12 deficiency or other vitamin deficiency.
I had low folate and vit D when I reduced my carb intake as I was reducing foods which were fortified with those but some medication sorted it out.
Well done on getting your HbA1C down.

 

[Inka]

89

So quite a big drop, which is impressive but possibly might be contributing to some of your symptoms. As @Leadinglights says above, consider other causes too. In addition, sometimes pain can be a sign the nerves are healing a little due to improved blood sugars.

You’ve also mentioned weakness in your arms, which sounds a little more unusual. Could it be to do with dietary changes? If it persists, I’d speak to your GP just to have some general checks and to rule out other causes. The GP might also consider medication if your pain is bad.

 

[gazzao]

So quite a big drop, which is impressive but possibly might be contributing to some of your symptoms. As @Leadinglights says above, consider other causes too. In addition, sometimes pain can be a sign the nerves are healing a little due to improved blood sugars.

You’ve also mentioned weakness in your arms, which sounds a little more unusual. Could it be to do with dietary changes? If it persists, I’d speak to your GP just to have some general checks and to rule out other causes. The GP might also consider medication if your pain is bad.

Thank you

 

[gazzao]

Have you actually been diagnosed with neuropathy as there could be other causes, vitamin B12 deficiency or other vitamin deficiency.
I had low folate and vit D when I reduced my carb intake as I was reducing foods which were fortified with those but some medication sorted it out.
Well done on getting your HbA1C down.

Thank you I haven’t been diagnosed but everything I have seen described in the main website fits the bill but it needs checking. will bring it up with the doctor, if I can ever get a appointment

 

[JITR]

Have you actually been diagnosed with neuropathy as there could be other causes, vitamin B12 deficiency or other vitamin deficiency.
I had low folate and vit D when I reduced my carb intake as I was reducing foods which were fortified with those ...

@gazzao, it's easy to track your nutrition with an app like Cronometer.

Just enter what you've eaten and the app works it all out instantly

No need for a doctor's appointment to play guessing games!

I have used the free version for 2.5 years to keep up to the mark. I adjust what I eat for fibre, folates and iron; I take a a supplement for calcium and Vit-D.

 

[Inka]

True @JITR but if someone had an issue that affected their absorption of folate or similar, then they could well be eating enough on paper but still be deficient. A blood test at the GP’s would show any deficiency.

 

[saffron15]

@gazzao welcome to the forum. You should at some stage have a foot check as someone diagnosed as type 2. Mine was a bit useless. As for a GP appointment remind them you are ex forces as they are supposed to see you quicker. My late father was ex fleet airarm but he was very much don't make a fuss and we wish we had pushed harder on some things.

Good luck.

 

[Leadinglights]

True @JITR but if someone had an issue that affected their absorption of folate or similar, then they could well be eating enough on paper but still be deficient. A blood test at the GP’s would show any deficiency.

Mine just showed up in routine blood tests 3 months after my diagnosis and going low carb, but not since.9

 

[JITR]

True @JITR but if someone had an issue that affected their absorption of folate or similar, then they could well be eating enough on paper but still be deficient. A blood test at the GP’s would show any deficiency.

True, but if I didn't track my folate intake how would I know whether a deficiency was due to intake or absorption?

 

[Inka]

True, but if I didn't track my folate intake how would I know whether a deficiency was due to intake or absorption?

I didn’t say you shouldn’t track it or be aware of how much you’re eating. I was commenting on your statement that all you had to do was track it and there was “no need for a doctor’s appointment”.

 

[JITR]

I didn’t say you shouldn’t track it or be aware of how much you’re eating. I was commenting on your statement that all you had to do was track it and there was “no need for a doctor’s appointment”.

A clearer concatenation of my two statements would have been, all you had to do was track it and there would have been "no need for a doctor’s appointment" to discover a deficiency in folate or other nutrients.

It took three months for Leadinglights to discover her folate deficiency due to her low carb diet.

Mine just showed up in routine blood tests 3 months after my diagnosis and going low carb, but not since.

Cronometer estimated my folate intake yesterday at 112% of RDA (400 ug) thanks to adding lettuce as well as some carrot to our evening meal:

 

[Lucyr]

I’m really struggling with neuropathy particularly in my legs at night and weakness in my arms.

You can’t just decide you have neuropathy if a doctor hasn’t diagnosed this. You need to be tested for it, did a nurse not test your feet? Put in an econsult requesting an assessment for neuropathy if you’re concerned

 

[Ieva DUK]

Hi @gazzao and welcome to the forum!

I'm sorry you're having issues with weakness in your legs and arms. As many have said - there might be varying reasons for it, related to diabetes or not at all, but you do need to get that consult sorted for yourself. We know that medical care unfortunately can be a post code lottery as I've raid so many times on the forum myself, but you have to keep advocating for yourself to be seen and not dismissed. It inevitably affects your general wellbeing and other aspects of your life, so try everything and anything - online registration, mentioning you're ex-forces as saffron15 suggested or anything else that you have at your disposal. If you do need to talk things through - give our helpline a ring too! They'd be more than happy to help.