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Trying to walk.

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AndyGUK

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Type 2
Hi, just signed up to this and wanted some advice if possible. I am 44 and my sugar levels have been up and down over the past 14 years (type 2). Two years ago I got a blister on my foot which turned into a hole so I was house bound with very little walking for 12 months. Then Covid hit so I was house bound again. I weighed about 24 stone before lockdown and now I'm 20 stone, I have literally lost all the weight from my legs as I haven't used them.

I am trying to get out walking but I can't feel my feet or ankles so I walk slow but when walk, I get this pain above my knee to the hip also which caused me to fall over at the weekend. This issue has been going on for months and my doctors just keeps throwing more pain relief at me rather than trying to help with the actual cause. I feel I wont be able to walk soon which really scares me.
 
Andy - when was your last 'diabetes' blood test and what was the result?
 
14.4 about 2hrs ago. I am on an additional injection once a week now which makes me feel ill for a few days (Semaglutide) which seems to be helping in lowering it.
 
Hi @AndyGUK and welcome

I'm sorry to hear what a difficult time you're having with your feet and legs. Are you housebound or are you able to get to appointments? I would contact your GP or whoever deals with your diabetes and ask for help with your situation rather than more pain medication.

Were you seen by a diabetes podiatry clinic when you had an ulcer in your foot? If so have they given you a follow up appointment as without feeling in your legs and feet you will be in a high risk category and should get access to clinics. There are also NHS orthotists who make custom made shoes to protect the vulnerable areas on your feet and protect them as much as possible from skin breakdown. Covid has made access to some podiatry clinics more difficult but do ask for an assessment and for help.

Also request an occupational Heath assessment as they will be able to help you with equipment to help you stand and walk and see if anything else can be arranged to help you maintain mobility. Link below.

www.nhs.uk

Occupational therapy

Read about occupational therapy, which provides support to people whose health prevents them doing the activities that matter to them.
www.nhs.uk www.nhs.uk
 
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Thank you for the welcome. I was with the high risk foot team for over a year and nearly lost part of my foot but luckily, after a stay in hospital it did eventually get better. When I fell last weekend, there was no warning or anything - my leg just literally gave way from under me and I was on the floor. Luckily I was with my wife and a gentleman passing by helping me get back up.

My GP practice did sort me out a MRI scan and the results was just "just general wear and tear at the bottom of your spine". I'm in a catch 22 where I want to get out and walk for exercise but at the same time, I can't trust me not falling over again. My doctor just keeps giving me a higher dose of my nerve pain tablets and I seem to be going round in circles.

Maybe if I finally get my sugar under 7 thing might get better.
 
It was my usual finger prick. Due for a blood test for the HbA1c at the end of this month at the hospital (I'm tight with my blood, My GP surgery cant get blood from me so I have to travel up to the hospital).
 
So sorry to hear what you have been going through @AndyGUK

The loss of feeling in your feet and your mobility problems sound really difficult. Hope you can get some help with more than just pain relief, and hopefully some aids to prevent you falling again.

Perhaps you could ask about some exercises to help build up strength in your legs again?
 
Perhaps you could try an exercise bike to start building your leg muscles up a bit without them needing to carry your weight or worrying about falling.... or perhaps swimming, as I believe pools are now reopening.

Have you made any dietary changes to help your diabetes management? I imagine the dietary advice 14 years ago was probably even less helpful than the current NHS advice so that might be something to look at making new changes. Reducing your carbohydrate consumption will really help to lower your BG levels and improve your diabetes management. 14.4 is worryingly high and that was 2 YEARS AGO!! It would be especially worrying if that was a fasting reading. Do you test your levels at home?
What sort of things do you eat? Perhaps we could suggest some ways in which you could make your diet more diabetes friendly if we know what you currently eat.
Better BG control can sometimes reverse some of the nerve damage, so you might regain some feeling rather than relying on increasing levels of pain relief just by changing the things you eat.
 
My daughter in law had an operation on her knee which went badly wrong and was able to use a small pedalling machine to get some movement and muscle back in her legs.
She went through several of the devices, used them to destruction, but they were quite cheap - I think they came from Lidl supermarket but it meant she could sit in an ordinary chair and have it help her move the pedals at first, then gradually reduce the assistance until she was pedalling against some resistance.
 
everydayupsanddowns said:
So sorry to hear what you have been going through @AndyGUK

The loss of feeling in your feet and your mobility problems sound really difficult. Hope you can get some help with more than just pain relief, and hopefully some aids to prevent you falling again.

Perhaps you could ask about some exercises to help build up strength in your legs again?
Click to expand...
I have been waiting for a physio appointment for over 6 months. They keep saying its "just age". I have been reading up on a rare nerve disorder from your hip to the knee which has my problems down to the detail but the doctor doesn't think it is.

Thank you for the advice in regards to the exercise and pedals, I think I will give it a go. I had my mind set on getting out walking and trying to walk a bit longer every day but I don't think I'm ready yet. The sitting down and slowly building my legs back up while trying to cut weight from my upper body seems the best.

Thank you for the helpful advice all.
 
Hi, I'm sorry to hear all the problems you are experiencing. Have you thought of using walking poles? Having one in each hand will make you feel more secure. Have a look on Amazon. I purchased mine from Lidle's when on offer, and they have recently been a godsend during a flare-up of arthritis and my balance was all over the place. Best of wishes to you.
 
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