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Another newly diagnosed with questions.....

Caprock94

Well-Known Member
Messages
337
First of all, this is a great forum with some amazing people! I was diagnosed with Type 2 back in early April. I had been prediabetic for several years, usually in the low to mid range (right around 6.0%). I know I should have tried to make changes earlier, but unfortunately I didn't. Just wasn't that worried about it. I know my dad has been prediabetic for years, and his had not progressed. My diet has never been great, but I had just gone through a very stressful 4 or 5 months. I went to the walk in clinic for another reason, and they told me my blood sugar was 265. Hba1c was 8.5%. Less than a year earlier, my a1c was 6.1%. So, this is a pretty recent climb. I was shocked of course.

So I went to my regular doctor a few days later to confirm. Hba1c was 8.3%. I had already started searching for answers, and this was the best site I found. I immediately cut out cokes, sweets, etc. My doctor didn't say anything about trying to reverse it. Just said he was a diabetic as well, and had been for 15 years. He said you just manage it with medicine, later additional medicine will likely be needed, etc. To his credit, he did at least say cut back on carbs and exercise. He then set me up to see the diabetes educator and that was it. That was around April 10th.

I went low carb immediately, and read through so many threads here. I got a meter and started testing regularly. I never got a reading over 200. First reading I took was 196. Within a week I was around 120 morning and night, and 130-150 2 hours after meals. Sometimes a little higher if I ate too many carbs. For the past couple of weeks, I have stayed pretty steady with readings of 90-115 in the morning, and the same at night. I rarely go over 135 after meals. I lost 20 pounds. I was starting to feel a lot better, and gaining confidence.

Five days ago, however, I started getting weird feelings in my feet and hands. Tingling, some bee sting type feelings, etc. Feet felt like they were burning the last couple of days. The hands aren't as bad, but I am getting sensations there. Also getting some of these sensations up my lower legs some, and down my arms. All of this came on suddenly. It wasn't one or two toes, then more, etc. It came on almost all at once over a couple of days. I don't notice any numbness. I can feel all of my toes, and all areas of my feet. It's like I have increased feelings in my feet as opposed to having less feeling. My anxiety is now very high! I haven't been diabetic very long, and these symptoms didn't start until AFTER I got things under what (I believe) is pretty good control in terms of my blood sugar. I went back to the nurse and my a1c is now at 6.6%, down from 8.5% in just 5 weeks.

What could be going on here? I'm obviously pretty concerned.
 
Seek medical care right away. For the reasons you have already suggested it may not be diabetic neuropathy, there are many causes of peripheral neuropathy symptoms, but it's important to get checked out.
 
Some people have got pain as nerves regenerate. So this might be that, but agree with @ert that you should get it checked out. You might peek the interest of your diabetic GP too with your successes? Well done.
 
Thanks. I will definitely be checking it out. Not quite as bad today. Feels more like a buzzing in my feet. I hope I am not too late. I felt like I caught this pretty early, and I am doing all that I can to reverse it. Man I miss pizza and cokes.....but I can do without them!
 
Welcome to the forum @Caprock94. Well done on your bg and weight reductions. I'm afraid I can't help you with your problems in feet and hands, but maybe other T2s can.
 
Hi. Similar thing happened to me. When I began regaining control of my glucose, I started having some major nerve malfunctioning in my feet. I won’t go into details here but suffice to say it wasn’t pleasant at its peak.
 
Hi and welcome!

Congrats on siezing this with both hands. :D

Regarding the tingling, yes, make an appointment to discuss with your doc. Hopefully they will run a few tests.
And please don't let them just say 'oh well, you are a T2 now, these things are progressive'.
There are plenty of other reasons why people get neuropathy, from trapped nerves, medication contraindications, B12 deficiency, and others. Keep pushing til you get an answer!
 
Hi. Similar thing happened to me. When I began regaining control of my glucose, I started having some major nerve malfunctioning in my feet. I won’t go into details here but suffice to say it wasn’t pleasant at its peak.

How long did it last, and what did you do to resolve? What did your doc say about it?
 
How long did it last, and what did you do to resolve? What did your doc say about it?

I didn’t see my doctor because I knew I’d just get prescribed a drug and sent on my way. Initially I vaped cannabis herb to mask the pain and help me sleep at night. Then I discovered anti-inflammatory ketogenic whole food eating, which very quickly alleviated the symptoms. Within a few months it was gone.
 
Incidentally I am not recommending that you do not seek medical advice. That is just the path that I chose.
 
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