Type 1 Just got diabetic neuropathy

Kevvb1

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So just got diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy does anyone else have this and any tips at all?
 

kitedoc

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Hi @Kevvb1,
Sorry to hear a doctor has found this.
I would just ask whether this was a specialist's opinion and were other causes of neuropathy had been ruled out with appropriate testing?
And have been advised about what can be done about it and how the symptoms can be managed?
 

Kevvb1

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It was a gp. My legs and feet have been hurting a lot over the last few weeks.. he just prescribed me some pills ‘pregabalin’ and said we will see how that works
 

kitedoc

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Thank you @Kevvb1 for that information. Fro my reading and personal experience, not medical opinion or advice:
On mayoclinic.org Peripheral neuropathy it states that diabetes can be a cause of neuropathy symptoms typically in one's limbs, but that there are other causes of neuropathy to consider, such as a deficit of vitamin B12 - which can have a number of causes, as the same site details in its Vitamin B12 deficiency section or the cause could be due an excess of vitamin B6 intake, or effects of one or more toxins etc.

It would be a shame to be diagnosed with neuropathy for the wrong reason and miss out on proper treatment. And we expect our GPs to be thorough with these things. And if we can find such causes on the internet why cannot they, and pay attention to what is becoming mire and more common knowledge.

There are also various forms of diabetic neuropathy not just peripheral neuropathy, and a less casual approach than that which appears to have been offered by your GP may be advisable, such as from an endocrinologist or other medical specialist.

If a specialist opinion and lack of another cause suggests diabetes is the culprit, then it may be that enough years of being diabetic with blood sugar levels (bsls) not being in ideal range has passed to leave you with this diabetes complication.

If you feel that you have had good control and only been diagnosed and on insulin for a few years, say less than 10 years, it would, if i am interpreting various readings correctly, be unusual to have a diabetes complication as you describe.
But not impossible as i have read but the lack of good bsl control like HBAICs bbeing quite high and large ups and downs in bsl over that time are usually seen.

Or maybe being diagnosed incorrectly and hhaving high bsls for years before things changed and you were 'relabelled as Type 1 or with another condition with same consequences called LADA.

Not that you should assume that having been properly diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy that it is your fault. The management in diabetes has changed over the 52 years i have been on insulin but doctors have not always kept up to date in their advice to their patients, even now. You may have been led to belive your bsl control was OK when in fact it was not.

Without wishing to provide any guarantees there are diabetics who have been able to reverse complcations such as diabetic neuropathy and/or diabetic eye complications.
The issue is that abrupt improvement in bsl control can sometimes make the complications problems initially worse, before they get better and disappear.
And if the neuroathy say, has been long standing, then it may not be fully reversible.

At this point i will leave things there until it is clear that your diagnosis of diabetic perpheral neuropathy has been properly made.

Once that is clear other things can be discussed.

Best Wishes.
 
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Kevvb1

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Well I told him the loan I’m having.. instantly said neuropathy... I’ve been diagnosed since early 2017.. run hba1c around 12% for a big portion of diagnosis time.. I have my bloods back yesterday and I’m at 9% I have had a bumpy ride with high levels so it does explain as to why I am having complications.. I really hope the effects can be reversed
 

kitedoc

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Have you been to an endocrinologist and diabetes nurse in the time since diagnosis?
And are you aware of what the acceptable range of bsls are and HBAIC?
 

Kevvb1

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Haven’t seen endo this is a gp diagnosis... I got my blood back at 9%
 

Kevvb1

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I’ve heard CBD oil is good for the pain and also potentially has properties which could help nerve repair
 

MeiChanski

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I’ve heard CBD oil is good for the pain and also potentially has properties which could help nerve repair
I'd doubt CBD will help keep things under control. You need to see your diabetes team or push for it to get your blood sugar levels under control to prevent further damage.
 

ringi

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Check if your GP has done a full set of vit B blood tests resently.

Otherwise I recall @Mel dCP had diabetic neuropathy so she may be able to help.
 

LooperCat

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I have reversed pretty much all the nerve damage in my feet - by maintain non -diabetic glucose levels for 18 months so far. Unfortunately there isn’t a pill or a quick fix: you need to get those levels down x
 

Grumpy ole thing

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discovering you cant actually turn the stairs round, or move the roof...
So just got diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy does anyone else have this and any tips at all?

Hi @Kevvb1 , im sorry to hear your news. Have you tried a chiropractor? Sometimes pain has other causes, and it might be worth finding out if there's anything they can do to ease your discomfort?
 

Kevvb1

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@Mel dCP that’s great to hear!! I am on it! I was at 12.8% at the end of May now running 9% and still going down!! I am hoping to be 6% by my next bloods... yeah the pain sucks asssss but I’m just taking each day as it comes.. I’m just hopeful I can turn things around
 
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LooperCat

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@Mel dCP that’s great to hear!! I am on it! I was at 12.8% at the end of May now running 9% and still going down!! I am hoping to be 6% by my next bloods... yeah the pain sucks asssss but I’m just taking each day as it comes.. I’m just hopeful I can turn things around
Definitely going in the right direction, then! But do get checked out to see if it’s something else to blame x