Diabetic Neuropathy.?

[Yvonne-1]

I didn't realise the full impact of diabetes type 2 on the nervous system . I had a bad fall 2 weeks ago. My legs couldn't hold me upright. I had on flat shoes but swollen legs and feet. I hit the pavement breaking my toe ,grazed my knee. Broke my finger and face planted the pavement. I was reading through threads on neuropathy and Ally had fallen same as me. My legs gave way and I stumbled over and over til I fell my shoe comingn off. My doctor noticed a tremor in my right hand. She has referred me to neurologist. I'm worried don't know how to prepare. I don't think GP has linked all this to diabetic neuropathy .I have stabbing. Shooting. Numbness. Electric shocks in my feet and lower legs. Advice please

 

[Resurgam]

I have never had anything so bad, but my feet must have been swollen at diagnosis as I had to get all new footwear last summer.
Eating low carb is a great diuretic, I can feel the muscles beneath my skin between knee and ankle in a way which seems unusual. I have also noticed that the coarse hairs have gone - I never did shave my legs, but perhaps ought to have done - now I do not need to.
Is your blood glucose well controlled? That is what caused the changes for me, I am quite sure. Once I got after meal levels down to under 8 mmol/l lots of things began to change.
I do hope that you soon recover from what seems like a nasty fall, and a shock to the system.

 

[kitedoc]

Hi @Yvonne-1 - I do hope you are recovering well from such a nasty fall.
You seem to have a number of things happening: leg pains, leg swelling, tremour, a fall.
The best I can suggest as a fellow patient is to make notes of your symptoms and story so that you are well prepared for your interview with the neurologist.
If you are so troubled by your leg pains or other symptoms that you are not sleeping, or having further falls etc it sounds like you might need to see your GP again and perhaps insist on an earlier appointment with the neurologist or some more immediate management to tide you over.
Best Wishes.

 

[Alexandra100]

I have also noticed that the coarse hairs have gone - I never did shave my legs, but perhaps ought to have done - now I do not need to.

Hair loss on the legs is a diabetic complication. As far as I am concerned, a very welcome one!

 

[Alexandra100]

My doctor noticed a tremor in my right hand

This is probably benign, also called "idiopathic". You can check it out on the internet. I have a benign tremor in my right hand which shows itself if I try to pour out tea without supporting the pot with my left hand. I also have trouble cutting the nails on my left hand. The more a person tenses up to try to stop the tremor, the worse it is. This kind of tremor is harmless, just annoying.

 

[Alexandra100]

I had on flat shoes but swollen legs and feet

I have found knee high compression stockings extremely helpful for a swollen leg and ankle. My GP prescribes them for me, and as I am (well) over 60 they are free. At first I tried the off the peg sort, but my feet are too large in proportion to my skinny calves, so they were no use at all. Next I was prescribed made to measure ones. These are great. I have to go to my pharmacist every so often to be measured for them. To my delight, they are available in black as well as the standard beige. These days compression stockings are much worn by runners and other athletes, so no need to feel embarrassed. My GP had no idea abut compression stockings, unfortunately it is not part of their training. I had to find everything out for myself and tell her. They are a bit of a faff to put on, which should be done first thing after getting out of bed, when one's legs are at their least swollen. However the immediate comfort makes the struggle worth while.

 

[Alexandra100]

I had a bad fall 2 weeks ago. My legs couldn't hold me upright

I am not convinced your fall was due to diabetes. If you have been somewhat inactive lately, your legs may have become weak, and that could have caused it. If you can, I strongly advise increasing your physical activity as soon as you are recovered enough. I don't know your age, but the older we get, the weaker, unless we try quite hard to keep our strength. Even mild exercise is also often helpful against T2 diabetes, so it would be a win win activity.

 

[rosco 2]

Hello Yvonne, my sympathies for what must have been a very painful and frightening experience.
Your doctor has referred you to a neurologist, this is a good thing imho. Some docs would just assume diabetic causation and not bother with follow up. So...easy to say...but try to stop worrying if you can. Concentrate on making notes of the events and have these to hand when you see the neuro. S/he will be grateful for the additional info to help inform the outcome. If you can, take someone you trust with you, they will hear what you might not.
Best of luck.

 

[Juicyj]

Hello @Yvonne-1 Sorry to hear about your fall, that sounds awful so hope you are well on the road to recovery.

It's very difficult for anyone here to give you advice on this matter, it's really down to your Neurologist to do a full analysis and diagnosis, try not to feel worried as until you know more there is nothing you can do other than make assumptions on the outcome, only a specialist can really see and understand what's happening to you, until then i'd take it really steady and as others have suggested make a note of all your symptoms so it's easier to discuss this when you are sat face to face in your appointment, wishing you well.

 

[DCUKMod]

@Yvonne-1 - You cerrtainly have gone through the mill of late, but the good news (if there can be any, having met unexpectedly with the pavement) is that this is a known situation now with yourr GP, and he seems to have taken note, and ben keen to garner follow up opinions.

My advice to you would be to try not to jump to any conclusions about what might or might not be going on - especially so soon after a shocking experience such as you recently had.

Nobody he can advise you what you are suffering from, or indeed if any given symptom is a cause for concern, or "just one of those things".

As others have suggested, it would make sense to think a bit about all the things you want to know when you see the Doc, and to write them down. Then, when you see him, you can check at the end of the appointment that he/she has covered all the aspects where you have concerns. Let's face it; it's your appointment, so getting what you need and want from it is important.

Also in the meantime, it could be helpful to keep quite a detailed diary of your blood sugars, if you test, but certainly of how you are feeling, and what, if any, symptoms you feel you have on any given day, because on the spot, in an appointment, it's not always easy to remember if you have ever felt x, y or z. You may even be able to see some trends in what happens when that could help identify root causes or potential treatment/workarounds.

If in the meantime you are feeling unsafe in any way, going about your day-to-day activities, please go back to your GP and ask to be referred to an Occupational Thererapist. I've not had to use an OT in the past myself, but I know when my Mum was having some mobility issues the person who gave herr back the most indepence and confidence, in the shortest time, was the Occupational Thererapist who just knew some greeat "stuff" about managing symptoms to stay safe and functional. Of course, it is still very important to get to the root cause of what's happening.

Take care Yvonne.

 

[Resurgam]

When diagnosed I had been using Nordic poles to walk with for some time, due to the state of the pavements I did not feel safe. They made a big difference to the times I went out and how far I went as they gave me confidence. I continued to use them for a few months, but had stopped needing them by the time of my 3 month tests.