diabetes nerve damage

[kathy warner]

I have noticed more than ever today that I am experiencing both tingling ,coldness and discomfort in my feet and legs also in my hand . Can this be reversed or cured . I am generally very active ,not overweight have reasonably good blood pressure readings but my blood sugar readings fluctuate high and low .I have been T1 for 13 years. I am vegetarian and watch carefully what I eat and count carbs and adjust my insulin accordingly. I am very sensitive to insulin and have a childs pen so I can take half doses .While I don't have as many hypos now I am going the other way with higher readings .I am on toujeo 14 units am and nova rapid before meals and to make adjustments as and when. I have become quite worried by this does any one else know what I need to be doing please

 

[KARNAK]

Hi Kathy and welcome to the forum. I`ve only just come across this post so sorry for delay in replying. What you describe is neuropathy, there are several types the most common is (DPN) Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy. It usually affects the feet & lower legs but can affect hands and upper limbs. You need to get a correct diagnosis so first step is to see GP and get a referral to a Podiatrist. You may be lucky and have a decent DSN in the surgery and would be able to test this condition for you. There are several treatments for this which your own GP will be able to prescribe, there is also Alpha Lipoic Acid which is not available on prescription in this country but can be purchased online. You need to get this treated a.s.a.p. as the longer it is left the more nerve damage will occur. I reply to your post with a great deal of knowledge on the subject as I am now the result of someone who left it too late to seek advice and is left with feet and lower legs that are very painful and numb in some parts of my feet this has now made it very difficult to walk. I hope you seek the advice you need and trust you can be treated with success. Best wishes to you.

 

[pav]

Only just spotted this topic as well, the sooner you get it checked out the better to either confirm if it is nerve damage or something else. If caught early enough it can be reversed or managed easier. Like Karnak I left it to late mainly due to bad care from the GP and myself not pushing them up the backside enough to get things sorted out.

What can help reduce the pain is getting your levels under more control if it's the case yours are running high, the more pain I am in means my levels are running higher than they should be. With me the docs prescribe an anti depressant which is used to also control the nerve pain, I keep on a low ish dose as I use the pain as a warning system due to my quirky levels.

 

[kathy warner]

I have noticed more than ever today that I am experiencing both tingling ,coldness and discomfort in my feet and legs also in my hand . Can this be reversed or cured . I am generally very active ,not overweight have reasonably good blood pressure readings but my blood sugar readings fluctuate high and low .I have been T1 for 13 years. I am vegetarian and watch carefully what I eat and count carbs and adjust my insulin accordingly. I am very sensitive to insulin and have a childs pen so I can take half doses .While I don't have as many hypos now I am going the other way with higher readings .I am on toujeo 14 units am and nova rapid before meals and to make adjustments as and when. I have become quite worried by this does any one else know what I need to be doing please

Only just spotted this topic as well, the sooner you get it checked out the better to either confirm if it is nerve damage or something else. If caught early enough it can be reversed or managed easier. Like Karnak I left it to late mainly due to bad care from the GP and myself not pushing them up the backside enough to get things sorted out.

What can help reduce the pain is getting your levels under more control if it's the case yours are running high, the more pain I am in means my levels are running higher than they should be. With me the docs prescribe an anti depressant which is used to also control the nerve pain, I keep on a low ish dose as I use the pain as a warning system due to my quirky levels.

 

[kathy warner]

Thank you both Pav and Karnak I welcome your advice and will contact my surgery today I do have a very good DSN but did not want to take up her time unnecessarily . I will talk to her and follow up all advice given many many thanks wishing you a healthier outcome for your futures kathy

 

[SB2015]

I have noticed more than ever today that I am experiencing both tingling ,coldness and discomfort in my feet and legs also in my hand . Can this be reversed or cured . I am generally very active ,not overweight have reasonably good blood pressure readings but my blood sugar readings fluctuate high and low .I have been T1 for 13 years. I am vegetarian and watch carefully what I eat and count carbs and adjust my insulin accordingly. I am very sensitive to insulin and have a childs pen so I can take half doses .While I don't have as many hypos now I am going the other way with higher readings .I am on toujeo 14 units am and nova rapid before meals and to make adjustments as and when. I have become quite worried by this does any one else know what I need to be doing please

Hi Kathy

Sorry about the delay in replying to your original post. You already have advice regarding the neuropathy from @pav and @KARNAK .

With regard to your levels it sounds as if you are diong what you can on MDI to keep things in check. Have you thought about asking for a pump? I struggled to get good control whatever I did when on MDI and got very frustrated with trying to maintain levels during intense exercise. With the pump I had a lot more flexibility and dropped my HbA1c by 10. If you are in the care of the sepcialist team at the hospital this should be something you could do at your next appointment. If you are in the care of your GP Practice it is worth asking for a referral to the specialist team, whether it is to get their help with reducing the lumps and bumps in your levels or to ask about a pump.

 

[trophywench]

Absolutely - I agree with everything said before but must add that I see you are around the same age as me and therefore ask you to get also checked out for the difference between the pulses in your groin and your ankle in addition to the normal 'annual foot check' pulses they will need to do for a start when checking you out regarding diabetic neuropathy. Look up the condition 'intermittent claudication' on the NHS website - although it usually manifests as calf muscle pain, what it actually is, is what you and I both probably commonly know as 'hardening of the arteries' - and anything under the sun that affects the blood circulating in the body efficiently will also affect our nerve endings before they eventually cease to function permanently.

I have no diabetes instigated medical complications - but I do have intermittent claudication and diabetes does NOT help so sometimes I get exactly the same symptoms as you are getting.

Please let us know how you get on investigating and getting treatment, for all of it.

 

[kathy warner]

Absolutely - I agree with everything said before but must add that I see you are around the same age as me and therefore ask you to get also checked out for the difference between the pulses in your groin and your ankle in addition to the normal 'annual foot check' pulses they will need to do for a start when checking you out regarding diabetic neuropathy. Look up the condition 'intermittent claudication' on the NHS website - although it usually manifests as calf muscle pain, what it actually is, is what you and I both probably commonly know as 'hardening of the arteries' - and anything under the sun that affects the blood circulating in the body efficiently will also affect our nerve endings before they eventually cease to function permanently.

I have no diabetes instigated medical complications - but I do have intermittent claudication and diabetes does NOT help so sometimes I get exactly the same symptoms as you are getting.

Please let us know how you get on investigating and getting treatment, for all of it.

 

[trophywench]

@kathy warner - you evidently clicked on the 'Reply' in blue on the bottom RHS of my post but that was an hour nd a half ago, and you don't appear to have said anything in reply.

Don't worry if you clicked on it by accident.

 

[kathy warner]

I am over whelmed in a positive way about your thoughts and confess I hadnt given anything else any consideration I have got an appointment tomorrow morning with a GP . Without using the forum I would not have made the appointment what ever it turns out to be something is not right. I will certainly let you know what the diagnosis is.Please accept my thanks for your communications

 

[HOBIE]

I have noticed more than ever today that I am experiencing both tingling ,coldness and discomfort in my feet and legs also in my hand . Can this be reversed or cured . I am generally very active ,not overweight have reasonably good blood pressure readings but my blood sugar readings fluctuate high and low .I have been T1 for 13 years. I am vegetarian and watch carefully what I eat and count carbs and adjust my insulin accordingly. I am very sensitive to insulin and have a childs pen so I can take half doses .While I don't have as many hypos now I am going the other way with higher readings .I am on toujeo 14 units am and nova rapid before meals and to make adjustments as and when. I have become quite worried by this does any one else know what I need to be doing please

Welcome Kathy. Circulation comes to my mind straight away. Well done for being active it will help. Good luck🙂

 

[kathy warner]

@kathy warner - you evidently clicked on the 'Reply' in blue on the bottom RHS of my post but that was an hour nd a half ago, and you don't appear to have said anything in reply.

Don't worry if you clicked on it by accident.

sorry I don't know where I sent my reply probably into outer space I wanted to thank you for your information and to let you know I have an appointment with my G P tomorrow morning. I will let you know the outcome. wishing you well

 

[kathy warner]

Welcome Kathy. Circulation comes to my mind straight away. Well done for being active it will help. Good luck🙂

thank you am seeing GP tomorrow best wishes

 

[kathy warner]

sorry I don't know where I sent my reply probably into outer space I wanted to thank you for your information and to let you know I have an appointment with my G P tomorrow morning. I will let you know the outcome. wishing you well

going to be monitored for diabetes neuropothy( sorry spelt wrong to tired to check) and discussed a possible choice of two different tablets one an anti depressant. My foot test reflex good and blood pressure normal range .Of course it will help if I get my blood sugar levels under better control so that I will work on

 

[KARNAK]

Hi Kathy glad you got some help. The anti depressants serve two purposes, obviously to help with depression but also help people with Diabetic Neuropathy. They will take a while to work as your body gets used to them but hopefully they will give you the relief you need and eventually you`ll be able to stop them. You are going to need to pay special attention to your feet e.g. wash and moisturise every day, do not moisturise between the toes and always wear something on your feet. I`m sure you have already been giving this info but it`s worth repeating. The coldness you feel comes with the problem it doesn't last forever but it is important you keep them as warm as possible. Night time is the worst for me I tend to wear bed socks and have an extra blanket just covering my feet do not use an electric blanket. I hope it all gets gradually better for you and remember you have the support of this forum so come back and let us know how you are progressing. Take care and best wishes. xx

 

[HOBIE]

Good luck Kathy 🙂

 

[SB2015]

going to be monitored for diabetes neuropothy( sorry spelt wrong to tired to check) and discussed a possible choice of two different tablets one an anti depressant. My foot test reflex good and blood pressure normal range .Of course it will help if I get my blood sugar levels under better control so that I will work on

Hi Kathy

Good to hear you are now being monitored. I would echo what Karnak has said.
Be nice to your feet (says she who is sat here with bare feet enjoying the cold of the floor).

 

[KARNAK]

Hi Kathy

Good to hear you are now being monitored. I would echo what Karnak has said.
Be nice to your feet (says she who is sat here with bare feet enjoying the cold of the floor).

Lovely ain`t it .