Tingling and numbness, recently diagnosed T 1.5

[Enigma2]

Hi, Im just wondering if anyone has or had these symptoms of Tingling and numbness in my hands but mainly feet. I Was diagnosed in April 2018 with type 2 but two weeks ago I was then told I have type 1.5 (Lada). I did mention to the doctor as I thought It could be the medication (taking ; metformin and gliclazide) but this was dismissed. The symptoms started as soon as i started on the medication. Im now thinking It could be my blood glucose levels adjusting as on first diagnosis it measured 24.0! and not sure how long they've been so high for. I'm worried it's nerve damage however the doctor said that would take years for that to happen. I'm finding it all overwhelming, having some real ups and downs, but blood sugar levels are pretty stable around the 5-7 mark and now only on two gliclazide following new diagnosis and results.

 

[Northerner]

Hi, Im just wondering if anyone has or had these symptoms of Tingling and numbness in my hands but mainly feet. I Was diagnosed in April 2018 with type 2 but two weeks ago I was then told I have type 1.5 (Lada). I did mention to the doctor as I thought It could be the medication (taking ; metformin and gliclazide) but this was dismissed. The symptoms started as soon as i started on the medication. Im now thinking It could be my blood glucose levels adjusting as on first diagnosis it measured 24.0! and not sure how long they've been so high for. I'm worried it's nerve damage however the doctor said that would take years for that to happen. I'm finding it all overwhelming, having some real ups and downs, but blood sugar levels are pretty stable around the 5-7 mark and now only on two gliclazide following new diagnosis and results.

Hi @Enigma2, welcome to the forum 🙂 Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but it's good to hear that they recognised that you were Type 1.5 and not Type 2. How did your original diagnosis come about? Had you had symptoms for long?

It's very likely that the tingling and numbness you are experiencing is related to the fact that your body is starting to adjust to better blood sugar levels now you are on medication - this is very common, and happened to me in the early months after diagnosis. As you become more accustomed to lower blood sugar levels than the ones you were getting prior to your diagnosis, things should improve, so try not to worry (it's known as 'transient neuropathy'). People often also experience blurry vision during this period of adjustment, so if you are experiencing this don't rush out and buy new glasses as it should get back to normal before long 🙂

 

[Enigma2]

Hi @Enigma2, welcome to the forum 🙂 Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but it's good to hear that they recognised that you were Type 1.5 and not Type 2. How did your original diagnosis come about? Had you had symptoms for long?

It's very likely that the tingling and numbness you are experiencing is related to the fact that your body is starting to adjust to better blood sugar levels now you are on medication - this is very common, and happened to me in the early months after diagnosis. As you become more accustomed to lower blood sugar levels than the ones you were getting prior to your diagnosis, things should improve, so try not to worry (it's known as 'transient neuropathy'). People often also experience blurry vision during this period of adjustment, so if you are experiencing this don't rush out and buy new glasses as it should get back to normal before long 🙂

 

[Enigma2]

Hi Northerner, I was diagnosed with type 2 initially in April. I've just got my full blood tests back two weeks ago and really wasn't expecting to be told im on the verge of type 1 as I've no family history apart from an uncle who developed type 2 much later in life, diet related. Doctor and Dnurse did say that it looked very much like i had type 2 with blood tests although it wasn't conclusive at the time. I'm slim and eat healthily so I didn't quite understand. The only explanation was that my mum has a thyroid condition, therefore it is linked to that. Hopefully the tingling will go and it is temporary. I have had tiredness and weakness for around 7 years but the doctor said it was because of labyrinthitis I had, (inner ear infection), which i now no longer have. Just hoping ive not been misdiagnosed but it looks possible. Thank you for responding, it really helps.

 

[Northerner]

I was diagnosed out of the blue aged 49, a week before I was due to run a marathon. Also no history of Type 1 in the family, although my father suffered from psoriasis, which is an autoimmune condition and possibly therefore a genetic tendency. It can be very difficult initially to tell the difference between Type 2 and a slow-onset Type 1 (i.e. Type 1.5). and many people are misdiagnosed initially. With hindsight I'd probably soldiered on with symptoms for about 18 months before a virus scuppered my pancreas all of a sudden and here I am now! Hopefully, when everything settles down for you, you will feel much happier and healthier, it made a big difference to me 🙂

 

[SB2015]

Hi, Im just wondering if anyone has or had these symptoms of Tingling and numbness in my hands but mainly feet. I Was diagnosed in April 2018 with type 2 but two weeks ago I was then told I have type 1.5 (Lada). I did mention to the doctor as I thought It could be the medication (taking ; metformin and gliclazide) but this was dismissed. The symptoms started as soon as i started on the medication. Im now thinking It could be my blood glucose levels adjusting as on first diagnosis it measured 24.0! and not sure how long they've been so high for. I'm worried it's nerve damage however the doctor said that would take years for that to happen. I'm finding it all overwhelming, having some real ups and downs, but blood sugar levels are pretty stable around the 5-7 mark and now only on two gliclazide following new diagnosis and results.

Like Northerner I was also diagnosed with T1 as an adult (or Lada) and I had absolutely no history of it in the family. It just happens. I also had blurred vision (and had even ordered the new glasses!!) and tingly fingers and toes at diagnosis. These all settled and returned to normal, so try not to worry.

Now that you have the correct diagnosis it should enable you to get the right treatment and things are likely to settle. You mention that you are on some tablets. Have they put you on insuion yet. Once your pancreas is not making any insuion there is no choice, but it may be that yours still has some beta cells making a bit of insulin.

Let us know how you get on.

 

[Enigma2]

Sorry to hear about both your experiences . I guess its never easy finding out you have something which is not going away. I think that's what I find hardest to comprehend!. On the positives, I now know I can help my energy levels and know why I'm feeling tired, it all makes sense now, with glucose levels. I'm just still annoyed at the doctor who said I may never know why I'm tired and weak and will just have to live with it!, those things ill never forget and why it took so long to do a simple glucose test, which may have helped me. It's only by chance that I thought I had a urine infection and got my blood test done that I found out i was diabetic. I had been thirsty but put it to the back of my mind. Had my eyes tested and got glasses also!. I'm Really scared of having to use insulin, so I'm hoping I can stretch things out a bit for my pancreas to last and find some miracle! Sorry for rabbiting on about myself! I'm not that self absorbed really!

 

[Northerner]

I'm Really scared of having to use insulin, so I'm hoping I can stretch things out a bit for my pancreas to last and find some miracle!

Please don't worry about it, you will be fine 🙂 There is a bit of a learning curve and a bit of extra planning, but it's probably nowhere near what you might be imagining! 🙂 I'd recommend getting a copy of the excellent Type 1 Diabetes in Children Adolescents and Young People by Ragnar Hanas, which will put your mind at ease about all aspects of living with Type 1, and answer a lot of your questions 🙂 (Ignore the title, it's relevant to all ages 🙂)

 

[Enigma2]

🙂Thank you for that. I'll definitely check it out and thanks for the support, its very much appreciated.