Neuropathy

[Marilyn Rich]

Recently diagnosed with neuropathy in feet and lower legs after being diabetic for 25 years insulin dependent Type 2.
I am 66 and have kept good Hba1c however I was told not to beat myself up as complications are inevitable the longer you
have diabetes. Please is there any advice or treatment that can help with the very unpleasant symptoms of neuropathy. Many thanks.

 

[Marilyn Rich]

Hello from Dursley Gloucestershire.

 

[Inka]

Welcome @Marilyn Rich 🙂

 

[Inka]

Sorry to hear that @Marilyn Rich Has the GP given you any medication for it? There are various supplements you can take that might help. Alpha Lipoic Acid is one (it’s not cheap and you need a good quality one) and is prescribed for neuropathy in a few European countries. You could also try B vits, including benfothiamine.

 

[Marilyn Rich]

Thank you Inka, my doctor has not prescribed any medications however the diabetic nurse suggested Gabapentin, not really wanting to add further medication to blood pressure and thyroid medications. I will definitely investigate the information given by you. x

 

[Inka]

You could try the supplements first maybe. Recently here someone gave a list but I can’t remember who. I’ll look tomorrow when I’m more awake. What also helps apparently is very strict control. A Type 1 I know with neuropathy tries to stay below 7.8 after all meals. He says keeping that as a max has helped relieve his neuropathy. Obviously that’s a very tight target and you need to be careful of hypos, but just something to bear in mind.

 

[Marilyn Rich]

You could try the supplements first maybe. Recently here someone gave a list but I can’t remember who. I’ll look tomorrow when I’m more awake. What also helps apparently is very strict control. A Type 1 I know with neuropathy tries to stay below 7.8 after all meals. He says keeping that as a max has helped relieve his neuropathy. Obviously that’s a very tight target and you need to be careful of hypos, but just something to bear in mind.

Thank you

 

[Gwynn]

Hi, I have tried some recommended (not sure by whom) supplements which seem to have helped a lot but were expensive and quite slow to show strong positive redults.

There were three supplements
1. R Alpha Lipoic acid (the R is apparantly important)
2. Evening primrose oil
3. Vitamin C

I take one of each, each day and notice a difference day on day. My oen neuropathy has almost completely gone now after a couple of months of supplements.

I did have some detail, ahh, just found it and attached it. Hope it helps.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @Marilyn Rich

Sorry to read about your neuropathy. 25 years is a pretty good stint with diabetes 🙂

Hope you manage to find a way to relieve your symptoms. As others have said, keeping your BG levels as steady as possible and within the recommended levels seems to help reduce discomfort and flare-ups.