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Buzzing Foot

johen

Well-Known Member
Messages
57
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi all. My buzzing right foot which then goes numb after a few minutes walk, then goes off when I sit down.I also get painful feet after 10 minutes walking and need to sit down. My consultant did say it was the start of neuropathy. (T1D 35 years) but he didn't say what I could do to stop it getting any worse or what I can expect. Three years ago I had a non-aneurysmal brain haemorrhage and since then my fitness has taken a dive. I've seen things advertised on social media like mats that improve your circulation or compression socks but I've no idea what to get or if they'll be any good. Has anyone tried anything or got tips or treatment to help prevent it getting worse?
 
You may like to take a look at Alpha Lipoic Acid and Benfotamine (Vitramin B1). See ...

 
I (T2) have had peripheral neuropathy for around ten years. It was the burning feet, stabbing pains, etc. type. It largely went when I reduced my BG, but I've still got a very mild tingle (couldn't call it pain) which I have to accept is probably permanent damage. It's also possible I've had/have some autonomic neuropathy as well, although that's much less clear and is only a possibility.

The Bilous and Donnelly textbook "Handbook of Diabetes" while it describes how patients might present and rthe range of things that comprise neuropathy, is unfortunately short on things that work to reduce pain. It doesn't have a lot to say at all about risk factors, treatment/alleviation, or progression.
 
Thanks for your responses. I have ordered some B1 tablets...should arrive today. I've been looking at the compression socks, the short ones which leave your toes free...I've seen them advertised on social media and they're a UK company but their adverts are like those long annoying ones that draw you in so I'm a bit suspicious. However if there are all these things....and they are so good...why aren't our consultants and diabetes specialist nurses recommending them? So has a yone tried the socks made by "Functional Socks"?
 
I meant I've ordered the Benfiotamine. Thanks for the recommendation.
 
Not tried those. I used gentle grip, because they worked when I had oedema in my feet, but there was no impact on the neuropathy symptoms.
 
My wife saw an advert for these Functional Socks on Facebook, so we ordered a couple of pairs. They should arrive in a couple of days. I'll let you know if they are any good.
 
I have peripheral neuropathy according to my diabetes team when they couldn't find one of the pulses in my feet. I don't have any symptoms as of yet in my feet aside from planta facitus in the heel, which is due to fibromyalgia. I get what I call ducky feet which feels like my ankle tendons have tightened and I end up slapping my feet up and down like a duck when I walk. Then I get calf pain which I was told was due to atherosclerosis, of which I've not had a follow up for. Been type 1 for 34+ years.
 
Hi @johen,

I can only share what has seemed to work for me. Probably the first diabetic complication I developed was peripheral neuropathy in my feet. This was characterised by what felt like wooden toes, but my skin sensitivity is still strong and I pass the NHS filament test. Nerve conduction tests done abroad did show deterioration in motor nerve activity. I have lost sensation to heat (eg hot bath) but still find cold very painful to my feet! When my BGs run high, my feet can be painful at night, but keeping my BG levels under control really makes a difference to reducing/eliminating this pain.

For a few years I had bespoke orthotics for my shoes - these definitely helped with lower back pain and Plantar fasciitis. But then I did some reading and decided to go in the opposite direction and wear "barefoot" shoes to stimulate foot circulation and keep the joints and ligaments in my feet as active as possible. So far this seems to be working. My balance is definitely better (my days of 4-5" stilettos are very long gone!) and I notice less and less symptoms of peripheral neuropathy.
 
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