• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Peripheral Neuropathy

C

cofibach

Member
Messages
5
Hello

I'm Type 2 with Peripheral Neuropathy in the legs which I've had for the last 3 years. I'm on 1200gms Gapapentin a day which has eased the various pains but still have difficulty in walking without a stick. The results of my last blood test were very good but there is not much more they can do in regards to my legs.
 
How good is very good? What was your HbA1c?

I have read that if you maintain good control then things should improve over time, but I doubt this is of much consolation at the moment,
 
Hi cofiback

I have a similar problem. By the time I was diagnosed I had lost pretty much all feeling in my feet and lower legs and my fingers were pretty bad too.

I found I got some improvement by keeping good control - never above 7.8 appears to be key - and taking Alpha Lipoic Acid and vitamin B12 supplements.

My fingers are pretty much fully recoverd and I have seen a small improvement in my legs and feet.

Take a look in the Diabetes Complications part of this site at a thread called Help in dealing with neuropathy.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/help-in-dealing-with-neuropathy.74653/

Hope it helps but it is a long, slow job.

Cheers

Tim
 
Thank you both. LittlGrayCat- I don't know the HbA1c. but the nurse said that my sugar level was good. I'll pop in and see if I can a copy of my last test so that I can talk about it here.
Tim. Thanks. I will go to the link later on today but just to say that it was mentioned in a letter from a neurologist to my doctor, copied to me, to check my B12. My legs today are not very good standing but OK when I sit down and I don't get any pain thankfully and also I'm glad that I can play golf 3 times a week. I have a single seater buggy. Not bad I suppose at 83.
 
Not bad at all!

Be aware that there is some evidence that an inability to metabolise B12 can be the root cause of insulin resistance, leading to a diagnosis of type 2 and other things. So even if your B12 levels come back normal it could still be you would benefit from taking the methyl form rather than the straight vitamin, as indeed I do.
 
Thank you Tim. Some good information in the Thread you mention above. I have copied Omnipod's first letter and will visit the surgery to discuss the various remedies listed. By the way I have remedy the burning sensation I had on the right foot with the TENS machine.
 
cofibach said:
Thank you Tim. Some good information in the Thread you mention above. I have copied Omnipod's first letter and will visit the surgery to discuss the various remedies listed. By the way I have remedy the burning sensation I had on the right foot with the TENS machine.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the information I'm loosing my feelings in some of my
Toes where is the best. Place to apply the tens machine In your experience ?
 
I have quite mild peripheral neuropathy, But severe autonomic neuropathy including gastroparesis.

Peripheral neuropathy I've had for last 10 years, but definitely been helped a lot over past 4 months by Alpha lipoic acid, 1200mg a day. Licensed for neuropathy in Germany since the 1960's.
 
Side effects of alpha lipoic acid may include a headache, tingling or a "pins and needles" sensation, skin rash, or muscle cramps.

There have been a few reports in Japan of a rare condition called insulin autoimmune syndrome in people using alpha lipoic acid. The condition causes hypoglycemia and antibodies directed against the body's own insulin without previous insulin therapy.

Alpha lipoic acid may improve blood sugar control, so people with diabetes who are taking medication to lower blood sugar, such as metformin (Glucophage), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase), should only take alpha lipoic acid under the supervision of a qualified health professional and have their blood sugar levels carefully monitored.

Animal studies indicate that alpha-lipoic acid may alter thyroid hormone levels, so it could theoretically have the same effect in humans. People taking thyroid medications such as levothyroxine should be monitored by their healthcare provider.

As with other supplements, alpha lipoic acid supplements haven't been tested for safety in pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, and those with medical conditions or who are taking medications.

I'm going to try it any way but it's best to know possible side effects I think. Thanks for bringing it to my attention as PN was the first identifiable symptom I had and eventually led to my diagnosis.
 
Pura Vida said:
Thanks for the information I'm loosing my feelings in some of my
Toes where is the best. Place to apply the tens machine In your experience ?
Click to expand...
I pu
Pura Vida said:
Thanks for the information I'm loosing my feelings in some of my
Toes where is the best. Place to apply the tens machine In your experience ?
Click to expand...
Try with the patches both side of one of the toes to start with and then move to the others.. Obviously start with low current. I increase the current gradually and say a few "Oos and Aas" when it gets high but I try and bear it for an hour.
 
LittleGreyCat said:
How good is very good? What was your HbA1c?

I have read that if you maintain good control then things should improve over time, but I doubt this is of much consolation at the moment,
Click to expand...
Hi I managed to get my HbA1c level. Observations.: " HbA1c level - IFCC standardised " 47 mmol/mol (<48) 42 - 47 Monitor HbA1c annually or sooner if clinically indicated. Is this good?
 
47 is good for a diabetic - just sneaking into the pre-diabetic range.
Pre-diabetic range is 42-47.

See http://www.diabetes.co.uk/what-is-hba1c.html

The lower the better, of course.
Some on this forum get below 42 which takes them into the "normal" range.
 
Hi Guys.....its been good reading all the posts..
I have been type 2 since Oct 2015 and have no support from my GP. I struggle very day with pains in my feet and legs, swelling, pins and needles and loss of sensation. I've had endless visits to my GP, who still wont refer me! I'm 45 and have always been well and able to walk for hours. Unfortunately, I cant manage 5 minutes now. Had a visit to A&E last year due to loosing all the feeling in my feet and legs, and all they did was scan my legs for a blood clot.
I feel like I'm bashing my head against a brick wall, so have now given up going to my GP.
I see people all the time via work who have lost toes with type 2 and am worried in a few years that's going to be me.
Any advice would be great...not sure where to go next. When I attended the diabetes course we was told any concerns ask for a referral, but my GP isn't interested.
Thanks for listening
Kelly
 
123Dom123 said:
Hi Guys.....its been good reading all the posts..
I have been type 2 since Oct 2015 and have no support from my GP. I struggle very day with pains in my feet and legs, swelling, pins and needles and loss of sensation. I've had endless visits to my GP, who still wont refer me! I'm 45 and have always been well and able to walk for hours. Unfortunately, I cant manage 5 minutes now. Had a visit to A&E last year due to loosing all the feeling in my feet and legs, and all they did was scan my legs for a blood clot.
I feel like I'm bashing my head against a brick wall, so have now given up going to my GP.
I see people all the time via work who have lost toes with type 2 and am worried in a few years that's going to be me.
Any advice would be great...not sure where to go next. When I attended the diabetes course we was told any concerns ask for a referral, but my GP isn't interested.
Thanks for listening
Kelly
Click to expand...

Is there just one GP at your practice if so sod him or her and register somewhere else

If your practice has other
GP's give them a go

Who referred you to the diabetes course was it DESMOND or DAFNE?

Go to them contact them and explain your feelings

Good luck
 
cofibach said:
I pu

Try with the patches both side of one of the toes to start with and then move to the others.. Obviously start with low current. I increase the current gradually and say a few "Oos and Aas" when it gets high but I try and bear it for an hour.
Click to expand...
 
Back
Top