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Cold hands/feet/nose

heyitisrebecca

Member
Messages
14
Location
North Lincs
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Spiders, blood, needles/syringes, heights
Hi guys

I was just wondering if any of my fellow Type 1 Diabetics have suffered/suffer from cold hands/feet/nose? Over the last 4 months or so (during the winter in the UK) I've noticed that my hands are cold; occasionally my feet and nose get cold but it's mainly my hands.

I had a blood test back in January when I was admitted to hospital and everything came out absolutely fine. I'm not lacking iron or anything like that.

I've also noticed that I've become quite tired recently; I do have university so it could be that. I wouldn't say the tiredness affects my life but it's definitely a pain.

Are unsteady blood sugars or diabetes in general known to cause cold hands/feet/nose and tiredness?

I was put on the Freestyle Libre 2 back in January after leaving hospital as the diabetic nurse was disappointed to know that I'd been waiting nearly 3 years for one and I can honestly say my Diabetes management has never been better. I'm just annoyed that I had to wait so long for one but hey, what can you do.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated
 
Have you had your thyroid checked recently?
The cold hands and feet I certainly remember even though it was a very long time ago that I was diagnosed with a failed thyroid.
It took a long time to be diagnosed though. I was tested half a dozen times and told that it was all OK, right up until it was very bad - my thyroid stimulating hormone level was about four thousand times higher than normal.
When first taking Thyroxine it was like being in a warm bath.
 
Yes, I had it tested in January and in October; all the results came back as in range. I'm due a visit to my diabetes consultant soon so I will mention it to him then.

What other symptoms did you have if you don't mind me asking?
 
my feet are almost always very cold, but I have never noticed this in relation to my nose
 
Zhnyaka said:
my feet are almost always very cold, but I have never noticed this in relation to my nose
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I think it's dependant on the weather too? Like I don't know how the temperatures are where you are but in England we've had a really long winter and quite a cool spring so far. It's not been warm at all yet

Do you get cold hands too?
 
heyitisrebecca said:
I think it's dependant on the weather too? Like I don't know how the temperatures are where you are but in England we've had a really long winter and quite a cool spring so far. It's not been warm at all yet
Click to expand...

Our weather is colder than yours, but my feet are cold even in hot weather
heyitisrebecca said:
Do you get cold hands too?
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yes, but with feet it is more noticeable
 
heyitisrebecca said:
Yes, I had it tested in January and in October; all the results came back as in range. I'm due a visit to my diabetes consultant soon so I will mention it to him then.

What other symptoms did you have if you don't mind me asking?
Click to expand...

The ranges used in the UK are very wide indeed. I have a wonky thyroid and was miserable for a long time - mainly cold, cold, cold, but everything was "in range".
I am now treated and in a much better place.

Do you know what the numbers were from your tests?
 
I don't have the numbers unfortunately although I've just sent an email asking. I actually have a really bad fear of venous blood tests so I'm reluctant to ask for another, but if it means getting down to the problem then I guess I'll have to
 
Been diabetic since November 21. Feet is the worst for me. Whilst on annual leave I like to be a couch potato. My feet were freezing. As I normally walk about 7-8 miles a day as a postman. Think you need to at least walk/exercise for 30 minutes a day. To help with circulation. Hands not so bad. But this winter I thought my nose was gonna drop off. During the really cold part it always felt like it was runny. Even thou it wasn't.
 
I suffer really badly with the cold. I have to layer up and sometimes wear at least 2 pairs of socks to keep my feet warm.

I think my circulation has a lot to do with it if I'm honest. I have to be careful with walk/exercise at certain times of the month as I also suffer badly from PMS. Terrible.

I've been diabetic since October 2013 and I still have problems. I wouldn't say my diabetes is perfect but it's been a lot better since I got my Libre 2 in January. I had to wait for 3 years for it and it only took an A&E visit for something to be done
 
You should've tweet'd Partha Kar. He'd have sorted it. I've had mine since February 22. If you use Android? Juggluco is fantastic! Turns it into a CGM. Having more socks on might not help. Looser fitting items are better. Sometimes in really cold weather I use a wheaty warmer. It's like a hot water bottle. Also tiredness comes with high BG levels. They say. I've got a 5.6 A1C so don't really feel an more tired than I did before diabetes
 
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heyitisrebecca said:
I don't have the numbers unfortunately although I've just sent an email asking. I actually have a really bad fear of venous blood tests so I'm reluctant to ask for another, but if it means getting down to the problem then I guess I'll have to
Click to expand...

A further test could be done with your A1c or whatever. Hopefully you can make some progress.
 
I'll have to give Juggluco a try then as I use Android. Thanks

I've use wheaty warmers but I find they go cold too soon so I've always stuck with a hot water bottle. My blood sugars levels have been a bit sporadic during the past few months due to exam/uni stress but I finish on 1 June so I'm hoping (and praying) things start to calm down a little. They've been more high than within range so I guess that explains the tiredness.

My HbA1c was 59 in October coming down from 67 in December 2021 which my consultant said was a massive step so I'm getting closer to the target (phew!)
 
Just Google search to find. Not in the playstore anymore. It's fantastic as you get a reading every minute. I found the biggest step for me was getting my basal right. I look at what is happening overnight then try to get it between 5-7 mmol. Increase by a unit. Give 48hrs. Then increase/ decrease again. Breakfast is always a problem with dawn phenomenon. I have yogurt and granola. But if you want to stay in range. You can't eat it all in one go like before. 1-2 teaspoons at a time. This is the only meal I baby. Having a main meal and sweet. I'll eat main meal after insulin dose. Sweet I'll eat 50 mins after dose if BG is below 10. Preferably about 6-7. If not I'll wait until the insulin is working. Diabetes is basically a big experiment. Because food companies have a tolerance on labeling. Carb values aren't even correct half the time. Let me know if you need any help setting up Juggluco.

This works for me might not for anyone else.
 
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heyitisrebecca said:
Yes, I had it tested in January and in October; all the results came back as in range. I'm due a visit to my diabetes consultant soon so I will mention it to him then.

What other symptoms did you have if you don't mind me asking?
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My digestion was slow, my pulse rate reduced, my normal temperature was over a degree below average. All my nails grew really slowly, and my hair - oh, and my eyebrows vanished away starting at the ear ends and shrank down to about half what they should be - these days I know that I have got the right amount of Thyroxine just by checking the amount of eyebrow I have
 
I don't have any of those symptoms, only cold hands and fatigue - common signs of high blood sugars? They've been unsteady for a few months due to uni/exam stress so maybe a build up?
 
heyitisrebecca said:
I don't have any of those symptoms, only cold hands and fatigue - common signs of high blood sugars? They've been unsteady for a few months due to uni/exam stress so maybe a build up?
Click to expand...
Could also be weather related. Last month I had a fortnight of higher than normal. I feel like my diabetes is like keeping a genie in a bottle. Once he starts to get out. His hard to get back in the bottle.
 
Ipodlistener said:
Could also be weather related. Last month I had a fortnight of higher than normal. I feel like my diabetes is like keeping a genie in a bottle. Once he starts to get out. His hard to get back in the bottle.
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Definitely relatable!! Whenever I have constantly high blood sugars I feel absolutely awful. My problem is keeping them within range every day and not skipping the carb counting - I tend to do that and boy so I regret it
 
My breakfast and tea are normally the same most days. The only meal which differs is lunch. But I do tend to eat the same things most weeks. I've carb counted since being diagnosed. Sometimes I'll guess. But not often. I feel diabetes likes a routine. Also it makes it easier to spot if you are deviating.
 
I normally write all the day's meals in a book with the carbs etc so I can look back and check the carbs for something in the future; I haven't done that lately!! You'd think being a uni student would leave me more organised but I'm definitely not

I ordered the Diabetes UK carbs and cals book today so I can get back to carb counting properly. Determined to get my sugars and health okay again now I've finished uni!
 
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