Why the NHS treatment (or lack of) for my wife's newly diagnosed diabetes potentially caused avoidable lifelong pain and disability.

[rebrascora]

PS I’ve only just read all the way through your posts.

Check out the FreeStyle Libre free trial thread on this site? It might help.

He already states in the middle of his opening post that they are using Freestyle Libre....

Through chance, a close family member is a GP and 6 weeks in, mentioned that there is another device that could help that is easily accessible, but at this stage at least, would need to be privately funded. This is a Freestyle Libre sensor that monitors your blood sugars every 5 minutes. I had looked into this kind of thing before, but hadn't found anything that could be used now. My wife wanted to follow the nurses' advice, things were stressful enough listening to the advice from the various medical professionals. However, she agreed to give it a go.

 

[AnnSebastian]

PS I’ve only just read all the way through your posts.

Check out the FreeStyle Libre free trial thread on this site? It might help.

PPS - I haven’t used a ‘foot massage’ device - but I would think it can only be positive. Whenever you see an ad for ‘foot massagers’ you tend to see a footnote stating ‘not intended for diabetics’

I could be wrong here - but it seems to be a footnote to protect a company selling foot massagers from any comeback from people with diabetes. But we all need to make our own choices.

 

[KARNAK]

PPS - I haven’t used a ‘foot massage’ device - but I would think it can only be positive. Whenever you see an ad for ‘foot massagers’ you tend to see a footnote stating ‘not intended for diabetics’

I could be wrong here - but it seems to be a footnote to protect a company selling foot massagers from any comeback from people with diabetes. But we all need to make our own choices.

I was told by my Podiatrist under no circumstances use one of these machines
on your feet, patients with DPN have enough problems without adding to them.
Ted

 

[trophywench]

I was told by my Podiatrist under no circumstances use one of these machines
on your feet, patients with DPN have enough problems without adding to them.
Ted

That's exactly the message I was attempting to convey, Ted. Nerves, even when they are ABLE to heal, don't do it quickly.

 

[Deleted member 21371]

Foot massagers are a grey area.
Maybe big companies are just out to disclaim any responsibility?
Maybe a lack of response from nerve endings mean damage could be caused to people that can't feel?
Maybe ultrasonic vibrations stimulate nerves?
Maybe ultrasonic vibrations stop nerve growth meeting and healing effectively?

I would suggest doing nothing unless the person on the end of the feet has read, understood, and is completely happy with the consequence of the action.
But there enough views out there to probably decide on a "no"
I'd also put my foot in with one of theirs to be fair, and see what happened to my foot.
Or try both for a while.

 

[DiabetesHusband]

Sorry all for the delay in responding.
@KARNAK Thanks for the link! I've had a good read and it's been useful.
With regards to the foot massager advice. Was this regarding a foot massager or an electrical foot massager?

@AnnSebastian Thank you! I must admit it can be overwhelming all the support, but it really has meant a lot to me! Thanks for all your tips. The one about the distracting the mind is advice that I've given my wife too. I've had tinnitus in the past, so I read Rock Steady by Joey Remenyi and this has helped me to almost cure my tinnitus. Neuroplasticity is a fascinating subject.
With regards to foot massage device, I was referring to an electrical foot massage device. The reviews on Amazon have been really positive as the electricity is supposed to stimulate the nerves. I give her foot massages, so wouldn't use a normal foot massage device - can't see it being as good anyway.

@trophywench Thank you for sharing! This explanation is really helpful to me in understanding.

I hope to reply to the other messages soon!

 

[KARNAK]

Good morning.

My team of Podiatrist are quite adamant no electrical foot massage equipment
should be used especially on people with long term Neuropathy. Visual inspection
and hand massage are the best tools to use, electrical pulses may make the
already damaged nerves worse so general consensus from the people who know
don`t go down that route.

Has she been prescribed any nerve pain medication yet? sorry if you`ve already
posted this, Gabapentin or Pregablin plus Duloxetine takes the edge off of it but
they can take about three weeks to become effective.

Good luck.
Ted.

 

[DiabetesHusband]

Thanks @KARNAK @trophywench and @travellor - seems to be a fair consensus to not use them and I understand the reasoning.

@KARNAK she is now on Duloxetine and it hasn't been so bad recently. Going strong with the low carb diet and keeping values below a 9, seems to help.

Thanks again for all your help!