Chronic Tingling: Does it go away?

[Corinasaurus]

Hello,

I’m very new to this so I don’t know how to handle anything. I recently developed chronic tingling (it never stops and is very frustrating) in my feet and I just want to know if this is normal? Will this stop if I get my BG in control? Or does it (the stopping) happen gradually? Or will it get worse before it gets better?

1. I never knew i’m supposed to test my BGs because my endo never told me. If I didn’t start reading from forums, it would never have occured to me. I still need to buy a meter.

2. On Metformin 1000mg but i’m on diet and exercise.

3. Obese but what I have is simple diabetes. I have no high blood pressure or kidney or liver issues as per my latest medical. (And all other medicals before this)

4. I started out with PCOS before diagnosed as Diabetic. But my glucose is usually lower than 6. The only time I remember it being 6.4 is when I was hospitalized for stomach issues. (This is fbs and A1C only) latest is 5.8 (105)

5. My tingling started the same week as my PMS but I never got my menstruation and PMSynptoms are still ongoing but already went to my OB and she said there’s no relation.

6. Also had tooth extractions because of inflammation but dentist said not related.

7. Hema says not anemic and negative ANA. Still waiting for B12 and Folate readings but she said it’s very unlikely. Taking supplements for iron and B complex.

8. Neuro said neuropathy, gave me epileptic medicines and sent me on my way.

Okay so my issue is, I feel like I have good control of my diabetes as evidenced by my recent bloodwork, lipid profile, chemistry, etc. The most worrying is my HDL which is below the normal range but my LDL is within normal. Even my doctor said i’m doing well.

I Muay Thai/strength train 3x a week, walk for at least 30 mins a day and on a low carb diet. And lost 3 kilos last month and ongoing. But the tingling started anyway and so far it has been 3 weeks. I also had PMS for 3 weeks so is that related? Is my sugar higher? Should I take higher dosage of Metformin? I only know it’s diabetic related because my doctor said so and because it comes with blurry vision.

I just need reassurance that this is going to go away and I won’t be this way forever. I’m really doing my best to change but i’m bogged down by anxiety and lack of support system and it’s just making me depressed when I know that I should focus more on healing. I can’t depend on my doctors because they don’t seem to care so much.

Can someone give me a timeline of how long does it take to cure this? Say I get my blood sugar in control, does it go away the next day or will it take me months of good control for the tingling to stop? Will it likely progress into something worse even though i’m already making an effort to better control? Will weight loss help it considering that i’m already losing weight but it’s still happening anyway?

The reason i’m asking for a timeline is for curb my frustration, if I at least know what to expect, I won’t fall off the bandwagon even if nothing changes as the days progress even though I did everything accordingly.

Thank You! Sorry this took so long.

 

[Guzzler]

Hello and welcome to the forum. Tagging @daisy1 for the info pack offered to all newcomers.

May I ask is the tingling enough to cause actual pain?

 

[Corinasaurus]

Hello and welcome to the forum. Tagging @daisy1 for the info pack offered to all newcomers.

May I ask is the tingling enough to cause actual pain?

No. There’s no pain. Just annoying buzz 24/7. Less noticeable if i’m walking or moving around.

 

[Grumpy ole thing]

Hi @Corinasaurus

If you are in the UK some areas do prescribe a blood glucose meter for type 2's, your GP will let you know if he is able to prescribe one (and strips).
I often see a Chiropractor so anything like this I'd ask him to check it out too.

 

[Corinasaurus]

Hi,

I’m not from UK but I can get a meter here, I just need a recommendation from my doctor which I still have to get.

Okay, i’ll schedule a visit to a chiropractor, i’m at my wit’s end because I feel so unwell/unbalanced even though I have no fever, pain, etc. My brother is actually a Physical therapist and he didn’t find anything.

Thanks!

 

[daisy1]

@Corinasaurus

Hello Corinasaurus and welcome to the Forum Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask as many questions as you like and someone will be able to help.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 235,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.

There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:

• Reduce your carbohydrate intake
• Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates

Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.

Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes

• Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l

Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)

• Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l

Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)

• Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l

However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:

• structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
• self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.

• Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why
  
  
• Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
  

 

[tinker1]

I to have suffered with this horrible tingling in my feet and lower leg I have started taking magnesium which seems to be helping. I have also found if i am anxious and do shallow breathing it gets worse. Hope this is some help to you

 

[Corinasaurus]

Hi,

How do you sleep at night? Donyou take anything? How long has it been for you?

 

[Corinasaurus]

Thanks for this!

 

[tinker1]

Hi,

How do you sleep at night? Donyou take anything? How long has it been for you?

Have you any loss of feeling in your feet? I have been having this on and off for about six years but it does seem to be worse if I am anxious. I have no loss of feeling or pain just tingling

 

[Crocodile]

One may have good HbA1c and still end up with peripheral nerve problems. Short term spikes in blood glucose level have been studied for their impact.
https://dmsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1758-5996-6-139
These spikes have little effect on HbA1c as this measures only the average. Of course you may have nerve problems from an entirely different condition as well. Many things cause peripheral nerves to act up.

R-ALA ( Alpha lipoic acid ) helped my neuropathy quite a lot as did vigilance over blood glucose spikes.
Glenn

 

[Corinasaurus]

I think our problem may be similar, Electrolyte imbalance. That’s why magnesium helps because it’s one component of electrolyte. Try getting blood tests of calcium, potassium, sodium, phospate and magnesium. I think I suffer from low sodium because of my diet, either that or low magnesium which both calcium and sodium need for the body to use.

I used your advise (magnesium) and it got better. It’s not as oppressive as before. That’s how I started googling as to why it helps.

Thank you!

 

[Corinasaurus]

Hi, I think my problem may be electrolyte imbalance, bug I will try r-ala. Thank you!