Hello! I've been suffering with neuropathy in my feet for a few weeks now, what I'm really confused about is that its only started as I've gotten tight control over my sugars.
The last couple of months its been very rare for my sugars to go over 9, and there generally always below 6.5 (but this follows a period of burnout).
It's so frustrating that after getting control back, I'm now getting complications!
I've forgotten what a good nights sleep is and it is absolutely driving me insane!! It's hard to imagine how much it can effect quality of life before it happens.
I'm going to the doctors tomorrow, but my question is - does it ever go away? Or is it all painkillers to cover it up?
Also, are there such things as massaging socks? I feel like those would help a lot ^^
@emilyj17 I agree with ickihun and encourage you to make a little time each day to read this entire thread. It's about an hour and a half read. As you read through it, note 1) member names, 2) post number, 3) what nutritional supplements they're taking, frequency, and dosage, and 4) how it's helping their symptoms. If you can do that, you'll have a nice cheat sheet on how to get started and what to expect.
One thing that a number of people here have speculated is that as you improve your blood glucose levels, you're nerves begin to regrow, and it's painful, but the problem is only transient. Hopefully that's what's happening. I had no neuropathy pain, only numbness, before getting my glucose levels down. Then I had neuropathy pain in the top of one of my feet. But I stuck with the diet and the daily walks. Not sure how long it took but the pain went away.
Here's the supplements that all type 2 diabetics should consider taking...
B-complex - 5 of the 8 B vitamins play a role in nerve health and are used to treat neuropathy. If pain continues and doesn't go away, I'd add the B1, B6, and B12 B vitamins individually.
D3 - plays an important anti-inflammatory role in the body among other benefits. It commonly takes 6 months or more to get your levels up if low. Have the blood work done to determine your baseline D level then test again in three months. Too much or too little Vitamin D can be a problem. Your doctor will help you with this.
Some D3 formulations now contain vitamin K2 too (because D3 increases your bodies ability to absorb and use calcium and the K2 insures that the calcium goes into your bones not your arteries).
fish oil - anti-inflammatory; improve omega 6 to omega 3 ratio. If you haven't already stop using omega 6 heavy industrial seed oils - (corn, soybean, saffola, canola, sunflower, cottonseed, and peanut) - use olive oil, ghee, butter, coconut oil, and avocado oil (for high heat) instead.
magnesium citrate or another form - most important mineral we take; it's needed in 300 processes in the body, and few of us are eating enough vegetables to meet our minimum intake requirements.
Alpha Lipoic Acid - 400 to 600 mg a day total; I take 200 mg in the morning, 200 mg in the evening.
I take all of the above.
Going to take a quick look around to see if there's anything I should add to the list...be back soon. Okay, here's the list of ingredients in a nutritional supplement specifically for neuropathy...
Active Ingredients:
Methylcobalamin
This specific type of vitamin B-12 is the best absorbed and most effective type of B-12 available for nerve support. It has demonstrated significant improvement in nerve regeneration and function, leading to decreased nerve pain, numbness and tingling.
Benfotiamine
A better source of vitamin B-1, Benfotiamine is more readily absorbed and therefore the most effective form of B-1 for nerve support. It helps to decrease nerve pain and improved nerve function from neuropathy. Benfotiamine also provides protection from nerve injury and prevents the blood vessel damage seen in diabetes which significantly affects nerve function.
R-Alpha Lipoic Acid
The most effective type of lipoic acid, which is used to produce energy and acts as a very potent antioxidant. It improves nerve function and blood flow. R-Alpha Lipoic Acid decreases pain caused from neuropathy, nerve compression and other nerve injuries. It also decreases cellular aging and is therefore critical component of anti-aging products.
Coenzyme Q-10
Produced by the body and critical for proper functioning of the cell, CoQ10 is located primarily in the mitochondria, which produces the majority of energy used. It significantly improves symptoms from neurodegenerative diseases (ALS, huntington’s, parkinson’s). CoQ10 can improve nerve function and decreases symptoms such as numbness from neuropathy. It can also protect nerves from injury in some cases.
Acetyl L Carnitine
An acelylated derivative of L carnitine (amino acid found naturally in body) with much greater bioavailability. It helps the body turn fat into energy and is a very effective antioxidant. Acetyl L Carnitine improves pain, nerve regeneration and nerve function from neuropathy, neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s), and nerve injury or compression. Also improves learning and memory function.
N-Acetyl Cysteine
As a derivative of the amino acid Cysteine, N-Acetyl Cysteine improves nerve function and regeneration from neuropathy, neurodegenerative diseases, (Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s) and nerve injury. It also decreases nerve pain associated with diabetic neuropathy. and acts as an antioxidant. Moreover, it improves blood flow to nerves.
Vitamin B6
Part of the B complex. Vitamin B6 decreases the perception of nerve pain and improves the symptoms of nerve pain and function. Deficiencies of B6 are often seen in some nerve syndromes.
Vitamin D3
This fat-soluble vitamin is generally obtained from diet and is also synthesized from exposure to sunlight. However, studies show that many people are deficient in this critical vitamin. Deficiency leads to nerve pain and abnormal function, even increasing risk of conditions such as multiple sclerosis. Vitamin D decreases nerve inflammation, improves nerve regeneration, and prevents damage to nerve myelin (protective sheath).
Bromelain
Bromelain is a Proteolytic enzymes extracted from pineapples. It possesses natural anti-inflammatory effects and significantly decreases swelling and pain after surgery. Bromelain improves recovery after nerve injury.
Serrapeptase
An anti-inflammatory proteolytic enzyme used in Europe and Asia for nearly 30 years, serrapeptase significantly decreases inflammation and pain from nerve compression, injury and after surgery. It also decreases the risk of infections including Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA).
Curcumin
The active compound found in the curry spice Tumeric, curcumin actually decreases inflammation and oxidative damage. It also decreases pain from chronic nerve compression and improves nerve regeneration. Curcumin plays a significant role in improving neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
Bioperine
Bioperine is an Extract from the black pepper fruit, cultivated from the nutrient rich soil of southern India. It enhances the bioavailability of supplement nutrients through increased absorption.
Hmmm... magnesium isn't on the list. Here's two reference on why magnesium is important for type 2 diabetics...
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4549665/
This link provides lots of helpful information including how to figure out the best form of magnesium to take, and why we take K2 with D3...
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/05/10/magnesium-type-2-diabetes.aspx
Hope this helps. Nerve pain hopefully will get better soon, expecially if you're walking everyday. That really helps in addition to a low carbohydrate diet.