SheilaN
Member
- Messages
- 12
- Type of diabetes
- Treatment type
- Diet only
- Dislikes
- Giving out personal information on the internet because it leaves me vulnerable in my personal and professional life.
It is very common for doctors to overlook B12 deficiency-caused neuropathy in the belief that it is due to diabetes. This is both a common complication of oral antihypoglycaemics and often part of an autoimmune syndrome involving pernicious anaemia. (The other diseases in this syndrome, apart from diabetes, include Hashimoto's and Lupus, although not everyone has all of them.) There are inheritance factors as well. The condition of pernicious anaemia or other Vitamin B 12 deficiency is easy to treat but if untreated will cripple, dement and kill, mistaken for alzheimers, multiple sclerosis etc. Treatment for the neuropathy and other neurological symptoms requires injections of hydroxycobalamin (or sometimes another injectable form of cobalamin) every second day for two weeks to six months, then usually monthly injections for life, unless oral absorption can somehow be restored. In which case one could theoretically supplement with oral methyl B but the oral hypoglycaemics would probably inhibit absorption. (Note that intestinal surgery, nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and vegan/vegetarian diets are also high risks.) In Australia hyrdoxycobalamin for injections is prescription free and many people self-treat due to the general lack of flexibility and real knowledge on this in the medical communitiy. In Britain patients get very short shrift. Vitamin B12 is the most complex vitamin. Vitamins are not just add-ons; they are required for life. People wanting to know more about this complication/co-factor in auto-immune diseases might consult this article, which contains a film and multiple links: https://candobetter.net/node/4463
Despite having excellent control, it seems I've developed neuropathy. There is currently a shortage of Neurologists in the NHS so I have been waiting to see one since November and when I went for the appointment, the consultant was absent from work (no reason given) but I have an alternative date. I am finding the sensations I am getting unbearable as they are so intense it's hard to function. I have developed clinical depression with it all. Is there any hope of some relief?