Diabetes Complications - Help Needed

[Pauly21]

Hello
This is my first post to this forum, but i've been lurking here for years, reading all this wonderful advice.
I have been Diabetic (type1) for over 10 years now and have over the last year developed many complications. One of which is Peripheral Neuropathy. I have been suffering sharp/dull shooting pains, muscle weakness and at most times great difficulty in walking/moving about. I have seen various specialists and am currently waiting to see a 'new' specialist in Neuropathy. However i cannot find answers to a lot of questions i need to ask because most doctors/nurses don't seem to have enough knowledge on what i'd like to know, so i thought i'd try here. (I know some questions might be trivial but here goes)
1. Are there any vitamin supplemets that could help this condition, if so what?
2. When i go to bed at night, i immediatley get numbness/tingling in my legs/arms. What sort of mattress would be best for my condition? (i.e Hard/Soft/Memory foam). I currently have a pillowtop sprung mattress).
3. I use 'normal' off the shlef paracetamol to try to control the pain, but recently this has little effect. Are there any stronger ones that are more suited to this condition?
4. Since i have so much difficulty in walking, would it be worth me applying for a disabled badge for my car?
5. So far with all the complications i have ive managed to keep working (Shifts-Mornings & Afternoons). But recently some days i can't even walk without someone helping me. I've never gone on sick leave or asked a doctor for a paper before. What do i need to do if i needed a sick paper for time off work?.(i'm a bit afraid of asking my doctor for a note in case he says no).

I have a load more questions but i'll stop here for starters
Thanks
Paul
Appologies if i posted in the wrong group :?

 

[sugarless sue]

Hi Pauly and welcome to the forum.I can answer one or two of your questions.I bought a memory foam 'topper' for my bed when I was very overweight and had really bad pins and needles in my arms.You need to get the thickest you can afford to be effective though.You can get whole mattresses of memory foam but they are pretty expensive.The toppers are good as long as they are good quality.
Ask you doctor about medication for neurological pain.There are some drugs out there that help with nerve pain and are more effective than analgesics.
I suggest a google search for supplements but bear in mind they are there to sell you things!!Maybe some of the other members will come up with helpful advice on that.
If you have difficulty walking ,yes ,apply for a disabled badge.Again I'm not sure how you got about this.
Talk to your doctor about your mobility levels see if he/she has any suggestions.

 

[hanadr]

The supplement I use and have read good things about is Benfotiamine. It's a form of Vitamin B. I remember that I was told that my Czech peasant forebears used yeast as a cure for strokes or other neurological conditions. Yeast is rich in B vitamins
I concur on the memory foam. I spotted it being sold on some of the TV shopping channels at what looked like good prices, otherwise, you're looking at £150 for a double size.
another thing is what sort of BGs and HbA1c are you getting?
could you work on getting into the non-diabetic range?
Bernstein says that it can sometimes reverse neuropathy. Since it can't hurt you it's worth a try going low carb and getting into the 5s.

 

[fergus]

Hi Paul, and welcome to the forum.
I'm sorry to hear you're having it so tough.
I don't really have the answers to your questions, but Hana's question about bs and HbA1c is perhaps the crux of the issue. So many impovements can be made simply by normalising blood glucose.

All the best,

fergus

 

[Trinkwasser]

Agree that avoiding BG spikes is #1 best treatment

This may help but no promises

http://www.diabetic-talk.org/dpn.htm

 

[Pauly21]

Hi all, thanks for the replies so far.
My HbA1c is currently pretty high for my liking (9.7). I am under supervision from my Diabetic Nurse for this at the moment and saw her only last week.
Over the last year as this pain was getting worse, so my levels were becoming erratic and difficult to keep under control, especially when the pain gets bad.
I Have adjusted my dosages (mainly the Lantus) but every time i do i usually end up with a lot of hypos.
I have currently seen 3 specialist in various fields regarding my aches and pains and one symptom in particular has drawn a blank from all of them.
I am unable to walk more than 200 yards without severe cramping pain around my lower leg calf muscles.If i continue to walk, the pain gets so intense that it prevents me from moving my legs at all. It then takes about 10-15 mins to subside before i can walk again. All the specialist could find was that there was a slight 'electrical' problem with the muscles and another' slight' problem with the sinew? that binds the muscles together. But they said that these were unlikely to cause my problem.Could this also be a neuropathy symptom?, Has anyone else had or heard of a problem like this?
A Low carb diet sounds a possibility, anyone know for a good website for a guide to what to eat?

I also thought that a memory foam mattress would be better for me so i'll give it a try. I also saw that ideal world in the Uk are selling toppers under £50 at the moment so i'll try one of those.

 

[fergus]

Pauly21,

Your HbA1c tells me you're in trouble mate. That equates to an average blood sugar well into double figures. Your best hope, in my view, of getting this down to a more normal level must be to cut out sugars and starches as far as necessary.

Yes, there are many sources of advice regarding low-carb eating plans. Dr Richard Bernstein, Dr Charles Clark, Dr Wofgang Lutz, Dr Christian Allen, Dr Robert Atkins have all written extensively on the subject. Also, while you're here, take a look at the 'Success Stories' thread for lots of inspirational tales of how others have found the control they thought had eluded them.

All the best,

fergus

 

[lilibet]

Hi Pauly

Your leg pain sounds like something called intermittent claudication. I've seen it mentioned in context of diabetic complications, which you not eyou have, but as 3 specialists dont seem to have made reference to it, I could (of course) be wrong.

As I have been off work since diagnosis as still feeling ****** have had mucho plenty time to do the old 'diabetic' research. Am sure am going to be a holy pain in the **** to the consultant, GP, and DSN, but then they have the luxury of not being diabetic and when I feel a bit too gung ho and frustrated by their attempts to 'slow me down' I try and remember that.

Perhaps google it and see if the symptoms sound similar to what you are experiencing and if it is, dont be too worried to mention it to them. Jargon gives medics power and identity but I want some of that power BACK.

Best, lilibet

 

[hanadr]

Hi Pauly
If you're prepared to go the full low carb route, hunt up a secondhand copy of the Atkins diet. there are loads about, because of all the epople who used them for weight loss and either didn't need them any more or gave up. Atkins got a lot of bad press, but it's a good diet for diabetics, even those who don't need to lose weight. Don't be scared about the mention of ketosis. It's not the same as diabetic Ketoacidosis and is safe.
The book you really, really need is Dr. Bernsein's diabetic solution. You'll never see your diabetes nurse's dietary advice in the same light again after you read it.

 

[Pauly21]

I've googled 'intermittent claudication' and it describes what i get in my legs perfectly, however i've seen 3 specialists and i've had a doppler test, Two MRI scans & an Electrodiagnostic Test. But no diagnosis of what i have. I'll mention this to my GP to see what he says, thanks.

I've had a look at various low carb diets but i don't think it would be good for me, as i have high cholesterol (on tablets for it) so that would rule out the dairy products and most red meats. I also have the condition 'Reflux' which prevents me from eating a lot of fruit due to chronic indigestion i get from eating anything with 'Acids' in them.So that would limit what i could eat quite a bit.
I think i'll give 'adjusting' my insulin dosages another try.

 

[fergus]

Paul, don't get caught out by some of the misleading information regarding cholesterol.
The body generates 80-85% of its own cholesterol via the liver. Only the remaining 15-20% comes directly from the diet. The fuel used for cholesterol production is mostly carbohydrate. HDL (good cholesterol) production is increased when insulin levels are low while LDL (bad cholesterol) levels rise when insulin levels are high.
People often assume that foods like meat and eggs will have an adverse effect on cholesterol levels when actually the opposite is often true! This is because they are naturally very low in carbohydrate, so good for blood sugar control at the same time!

All the best,

fergus

 

[wiflib]

Hi Paul.
I also used to get horrendous reflux, especially at night, but since low-carbing, I've not had it once. If this is due to the weight loss or the change in diet I can only speculate, but it went almost from the day I started low-carbing.

Good luck I hope the forum can be of help to you.

wiflib

 

[lilibet]

Hi Pauly

I suffer from reflux too. Make sure they have tested you for helicobactor pylori (bug that can cause stomach ulcers, bad reflux being a symptom). If its not that then ask for medication to help (Proton Pump Inhibitors are very effective, better that zantac etc - Lansoprazole and Omeprazole being two) Losing weight will also help reflux.

As for the low carb thing, if you find the idea Atkins too severe, the South Beach Diet is not a bad place to start in terms of what it lets you eat. If the induction phase is too severe, maybe try the maintenance section cause its likely to be low carb but not as severe. The author is a Cardiologist and has a slightly different approach to the fat issue.

Or alternatively, just write down all the carbs you eat over a week and see where you can start to make changes in portions/type etc.

THe cholesterol thing worries me too, and I still tend to stick to low fat dairy but compare the carb/sugar content in them and see what you think yourself. If its minimal I stick to the low fat but if not, then I just take the leap of faith
Just avoid trans fatty/ hydrogenated oils

L