Living with Diabetes and Neuropathy

[MarieP]

Hello all
I am a Type 2 Diabetic in my eighties and suffer greatly from Neuropathic pain, being prescribed Pregabalin for pain relief.
If anyone shares my problems, or is able to offer advice, then it would be great to get in touch.
Kind regards
MarieP

 

[Northerner]

Hi MarieP, welcome to the forum 🙂 I'm very sorry to hear about the neuropathy. I know we have quite a few members here who also suffer from this, hopefully they will be along to share their experiences with you.

Have you been diagnosed long? Please feel free to join in with any conversations you wish to - there are lots of friendly folk here, so don't be shy 🙂

 

[Flower]

Hello MarieP and welcome 🙂

Have you had your Vitamin B12 level checked as it is vital in nerve function and can often be low especially in diabetics?

In the past I was prescribed Amitriptyline to help with neuropathic pain. It did help for a time along with B12 injections to raise my levels to the correct amount.

 

[MarieP]

Thank you for your welcome. I have had the neuropathy, trapped nerves in both legs, for over 10 years. Two years ago I found out that I had Type 2 Diabetes.
B12 levels checked and in hand thanks.

 

[HOBIE]

Hello all
I am a Type 2 Diabetic in my eighties and suffer greatly from Neuropathic pain, being prescribed Pregabalin for pain relief.
If anyone shares my problems, or is able to offer advice, then it would be great to get in touch.
Kind regards
MarieP

Welcome Marie 🙂 I drink Diet Tonic Water (for England ). But seriously Tonic water is good for circulation & keeping Hydrated is good. Good luck 🙂

 

[Lindarose]

I didn't know that Hobie My hands and feet are always cold (legs blotchy and purple!) so best I try it Thanks for the tip 🙂

 

[HOBIE]

Make sure its Diet. Available in most supermarkets for buttons. Hint of lemon or lime

 

[Lindarose]

Just got tesco low cal tonic with lemon That's mega fizzy! Hopefully will pep up my circulation Thanks Hobie

 

[HOBIE]

On Hot day in the summer its very nice & helps keep the colds down with the lemon. Enjoy Linda. 🙂

 

[Copepod]

Diet tonic water is worth a try, but if it doesn't help you, Lindarose & MarieP, please highlight your pain / poor circulation issues to your GP. Keeping well hydrated is always good, but so is getting the right medication, if appropriate.

 

[Lindarose]

Hi Copepod I have feet checked yearly and told they're ok But they are always either freezing or in bed at night suddenly too hot and I have to stick them out the side of quilt My hands are the same and legs usually purple blotchy Sorry that doesn't conjure up a pretty picture! My toes are uncomfortable but I don't like to say anything to dr or nurse as I'm reluctant to take medication as I always focus on side effects. It's abit like being prescribed statins then not taking them.

 

[mikeyB]

See how the pregabalin goes, Marie, it takes a while to really calm nerves down, so if it doesn't improve things in a fortnight, you'll need an alternative medication.

Same advice for you, Dibbles. If you tell your GP that a lot of diabetic folk have tried pregabalin with good effect, you might persuade him to give you a prescription.

Fingers crossed for both of you.

 

[william simpson]

Welcome Marie 🙂 I drink Diet Tonic Water (for England ). But seriously Tonic water is good for circulation & keeping Hydrated is good. Good luck 🙂

also the ones containing quinine are good for leg cramps

 

[Deleted member 16779]

The evidence for tonic water is poor, too much could be dangerous, and if it does help, it seems to be just for cramps, not neuropathy or circulation issues:

http://www.mylegcare.com/should-we-treat-leg-cramps-with-quinine.html

 

[Amigo]

The evidence for tonic water is poor, too much could be dangerous, and if it does help, it seems to be just for cramps, not neuropathy or circulation issues:

http://www.mylegcare.com/should-we-treat-leg-cramps-with-quinine.html

I absolutely agree with you on this Chris. Quinine in large amounts isn't as benign as people imagine and is really only for cramp not neuropathy. I have horrendous nocturnal cramping in my legs which has me up many times a night (Vit D and magnesium supplements have helped after proper testing). Quinine is an absolute no no for me as it's strongly associated with thrombocytopenia (reduced platelet count).
For neuropathy type pains I'd be looking more towards a mediation for neuropathic pain as suggested.

Always good to keep well hydrated though. Wouldn't want to spook anyone from enjoying their gin and tonic however so this is from the article;

'The only way to use quinine for leg cramps that could potentially be safe is in tonic water or in bitter lemon. These beverages, also called quinine water, are available in any supermarket, and the amount of quinine in them is not large enough to be dangerous, if you don’t take more than one glass as a quick remedy.'

 

[HOBIE]

Hi Copepod I have feet checked yearly and told they're ok But they are always either freezing or in bed at night suddenly too hot and I have to stick them out the side of quilt My hands are the same and legs usually purple blotchy Sorry that doesn't conjure up a pretty picture! My toes are uncomfortable but I don't like to say anything to dr or nurse as I'm reluctant to take medication as I always focus on side effects. It's abit like being prescribed statins then not taking them.

Hello Linda, that sounds to me like circulation. My good friend is one of the longest living Heart transplants from the Freeman.. He also drinks Diet Tonic Water. Good luck 🙂

 

[Ditto]

Hello MarieP and Dibbles, welcome to the board.

Now I've been put off Tonic Water for Mum. I'll just be filling her bottles up with ordinary water from now on then, wonder if she'd notice the difference? 🙂

 

[Ditto]

Hello Ditto
I do find water the best too but have Tonic water with lime every now and then, even this though is not stopping the pains :-( I have also stopped sitting on the settee, and using a chair! it seems to have helped today!

Mum gets terrible cramps but she already takes a Crampex every night so maybe the tonic water would be too much! I didn't realise it had side effects...everything has side effects!