Peripheral neuropathy despite good blood results

[AlexMagd]

Hi guys,

The last week or so I've been getting a persistent tingling in my hands and occasionally my feet. Obviously as a diabetic I am super paranoid about what this might mean! I was only diagnosed a month ago, but I've made some serious changes to diet/lifestyle and my blood readings are now rarely outside a 'normal' range (i.e. average around 5.3 fasting, under 7.8 post-prandial) and I'm expecting my next HbA1C to be in the normal range (down from 67 when diagnosed). Testing about 6-8 times a day so fairly confident that I'm getting a good sense of how my body's doing.

I guess I'd just be a bit surprised if this is peripheral neuropathy given how good my blood levels are at the moment. I suppose it could be a slow onset from when I had Type 2 but wasn't diagnosed... Am I just being paranoid about this, and if it is neuropathy does anyone have any suggestions as to what I can do to alleviate the symptoms? Are there any tests they can do to confirm it, as they're able to do for retinopathy?

 

[Deleted Account]

Firstly, I would recommend contacting a health core professional rather than self diagnosing. I can understand why you are super-sensitive to diabetes-related complications such as neuropathy but there are other reasons for tingling in your hands which need to be discounted.

As for your question about how you could get complications only a month after diagnosis. One of the problems with type 2 diabetes is that it is often not diagnosed for many years and the impact of high BG could build up over many years before diagnosis. So, if it is neuropathy (which it may not be), it may be the slow onset you mention ... but it may not be neuropathy.

Fantastic to read that you are regularly taking BG readings ... as you become familiar with the affect different foods and activities have on your BG, you may want to give your fingertips a bit of a breather and take less readings. But everyone is different so it is best to do what you feel most comfortable with.

Good luck with your next hb1ac test. With your fingerprick readings, things are looking positive. However, don't forget the hb1ac is an average of your BG at all times, not just when you are testing, and over three months. Unfortunately, without something like a Libre, it is not possible to tell what your BG is doing between readings such as when you sleep.

Finally, did I mention your finger tingling may not have anything to do with your diabetes?

 

[Bluetit1802]

I can't say whether your symptoms are neuropathy or not, but it is quite possible to experience this from having high blood sugars for a while before diagnosis. From my experience and what I have read on these forums, doctors aren't really interested in mild diabetes neuropathy as long as you still have a good pulse to your feet and good sensation. (monitored annually by the nurse or podiatrist). One thing that does seem to help is supplementation with R-Alpha Lipoic Acid. (Note it is the R at the beginning that is important), sometimes written as R-Fraction.

I suggest you visit your doctor and see what he says. There are many other ailments with these symptoms and you need to be able to rule them out.

 

[dbr10]

Hi guys,

The last week or so I've been getting a persistent tingling in my hands and occasionally my feet. Obviously as a diabetic I am super paranoid about what this might mean! I was only diagnosed a month ago, but I've made some serious changes to diet/lifestyle and my blood readings are now rarely outside a 'normal' range (i.e. average around 5.3 fasting, under 7.8 post-prandial) and I'm expecting my next HbA1C to be in the normal range (down from 67 when diagnosed). Testing about 6-8 times a day so fairly confident that I'm getting a good sense of how my body's doing.

I guess I'd just be a bit surprised if this is peripheral neuropathy given how good my blood levels are at the moment. I suppose it could be a slow onset from when I had Type 2 but wasn't diagnosed... Am I just being paranoid about this, and if it is neuropathy does anyone have any suggestions as to what I can do to alleviate the symptoms? Are there any tests they can do to confirm it, as they're able to do for retinopathy?

Before I was diagnosed, I had tingling in my finger and slight numbness in my left foot. The tingling went when my BG came under control and the numbness has improved a little. Of course you need to get it checked out as it could be something else.

 

[Katie Pod]

AlexMagD,
I agree with others who say that you need this checked out by a Healthcare Professional - HCPC registered Podiatrist or Diabetic Specialist Nurse. I would suggest that you see your GP who will refer you appropriately