Managing the numbness, pins and needles

[Lancashire lad Andy]

Hi. I'm Andy, originally from Lancashire and now living elsewhere. I have had diabetes for over 25 years now, however since 26th August I am pretty sure I have developed Peripheral Neuropathy down the right side of my body (not yet officially diagnosed) with constant numbness and pins and needles. So I am looking for any advice people can give and whether there is any hope for recovery. I am disciplining myself here not to tell all as to how I ended up in this sorry state and why I'm only joining DiabetesUK now, otherwise the complete story would be a not so small essay .

 

[nonethewiser]

What does Dr say it is?

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @Lancashire lad Andy

Sorry to hear about your pins and needles.

It sounds like it would be well worth making an appointment with your GP to get this checked out.

I understand that nerve damage as a complication of diabetes typically develops on both sides at once - but I don’t know how certain that is, and whether there are exceptions, or how frequently.

Keeping blood glucose levels as in-range as possible for as much of the time as you can seems to be key to slowing progress of any possible neuropathic damage.

Some forum members seem to have seen improvement in some of their symptoms.

Do you take any meds to help you with your diabetes management? And how have your levels been going?

 

[rebrascora]

Hi and welcome.

Sorry to hear you are suffering discomfort and feel it may be down to diabetes but important to have it checked out particularly with it being unilateral as that is I believe unusual with DN.

You must have been diagnosed at a relatively young age if you have had Type 2 diabetes for 25 years. I would be interested to hear the story if you would like to be less "disciplined" 🙄 and write more about how that came about but appreciate that some people like to keep stuff private, so please don't feel obliged to divulge more than you are comfortable with. Generally here on the forum, the more info people can supply, the better insight we can get into their situation and that enables us to give more appropriate advice or to relate to your situation better.
Knowing what meds you take for your diabetes, if any, would certainly be useful and what sort of BG readings you get if you self test?
Look forward to hearing more from you soon.

 

[Lancashire lad Andy]

Hi everyone, thank you for your replies. The first reaction via 111 and a hospital visit over the bank holiday weekend was it could be a stroke, however that has been checked out and thankfully isn't the case. However in the tests they mentioned my blood sugars and cholesterol were high so I have been testing myself a lot more regularly and am making an effort to modify my diet. When I was first diagnosed it was control by diet alone, then tablets, then about 8 or 9 years ago I went on to insulin. At this stage I am making an assumption that the pins and needles is diabetes related nerve damage, blood tests and a diabetic check up tomorrow should help me learn more.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

At this stage I am making an assumption that the pins and needles is diabetes related nerve damage, blood tests and a diabetic check up tomorrow should help me learn more.

Hope your appointment went well Andy

Were you able to get checked out? What have they suggested?

 

[Lancashire lad Andy]

Hope your appointment went well Andy

Were you able to get checked out? What have they suggested?

Thanks for the concern, at this stage it was a nurse taking samples mainly however she did upgrade the risk to my right foot from "Low" to "Increased" on account of the reduced sensation.

 

[mikeyB]

I would reiterate @everydayupsanddowns' comments.

It is rare for diabetic neuropathy to present on one side of the body. I would ask your GP to refer you to a neurologist to make a diagnosis. It also doesn't appear on the right side of the body leading doctors to suspect a stroke. In my opinion, it is almost certain that it is the first sign of a neurological condition such as MS. (I was a doctor, and do suffer from a neurological condition that is unrelated to diabetes). It is important to realise that not every symptom you have is caused by diabetes, particularly neurological conditions.

I too was born In Lancashire, moved around the UK, and now live were I was born - in the Ribble Valley.

 

[42istheanswer]

I would reiterate @everydayupsanddowns' comments.

It is rare for diabetic neuropathy to present on one side of the body. I would ask your GP to refer you to a neurologist to make a diagnosis. It also doesn't appear on the right side of the body leading doctors to suspect a stroke. In my opinion, it is almost certain that it is the first sign of a neurological condition such as MS. (I was a doctor, and do suffer from a neurological condition that is unrelated to diabetes). It is important to realise that not every symptom you have is caused by diabetes, particularly neurological conditions.

I too was born In Lancashire, moved around the UK, and now live were I was born - in the Ribble Valley.

 

[Jenny65]

4 years ago, when I wasnt diagnosed, and possibly wasnt diabetic at that stage, I had pins and needles on and off (at least once a day) in both my lower arms and my wrists, I had this sensation for about 18 months, I looked it up and assumed it was RSI or carpal tunnel, I didn't have any treatment or visit a doctor but the symptoms just vanished. I was aware this could be something serious but was leaning more to a stroke or circulation issue that diabetes. In fact I was shocked when I was diagnosed this year as I had previously sufferred a terrible burn from a hot water drinks boiler on one of my wrists, the skin came off, but as I work for an ambulance trust I had paramedics on site to help me protect it from infection etc. I took a photo of it each day as I was fascinated by the stages my arm went through, bubbling up, fluid filler blisters, skin peeling and a large area of discoloured skin, but within 4 months it healed with no sign of anything and no scar at all, I remember saying to someone, well I cant be diabetic then as that wouldnt have healed so well, then 3 years later I am diabetic. I am never unwell though, didnt catch Covid never get colds, flu etc..I am just lucky so far I guess. I hope you get to the bottom of whats causing the pins and needles x