Diabetic Neuropathy...r-alpha lipoic acid??..UK

JJ51

Active Member
Messages
39
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
I have diabetic neuropathy which us looking like treatment induced diabetic neuropathy I take pregabalin and B12 supplements but been reading up that r-alpha lipoic acid will help with the symptoms in my legs and feet. I am a type 2 on insulin. Can anyone advise what will help? (Desperate for relief now, been like thus for 4 months now)
 

Pura Vida

Well-Known Member
Messages
753
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I have diabetic neuropathy which is looking like treatment induced diabetic neuropathy I take pregabalin and B12 supplements but been reading up that r-alpha lipoic acid will help with the symptoms in my legs and feet. I am a type 2 on insulin. Can anyone advise what will help? (Desperate for relief now, been like thus for 4 months now)
I have been using R-ALA- 300 mg for many years and my neuropathy is stable 1500 Metf daily
 
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JJ51

Active Member
Messages
39
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Problem I've got is, I live in the UK and its not readily available here! I can order it but after talking to my doctor (she has not heard of it !) I need to ask about it as I take insulin so unsure if I should take it due to it lowering my blood sugar!
 

JJ51

Active Member
Messages
39
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Problem I've got is, I live in the UK and its not readily available here! I can order it but after talking to my doctor (she has not heard of it !) I need to ask about it as I take insulin so unsure if I should take it due to it lowering my blood sugar!
Has anyone taken r-alpha lipoic acid whilst on insulin and what dosage, How many times a day and where do you get it from? Being in the UK it's not available here! ?? TIA
 

Speedbird

Well-Known Member
Messages
364
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Insulin
Has anyone taken r-alpha lipoic acid whilst on insulin and what dosage, How many times a day and where do you get it from? Being in the UK it's not available here! ?? TIA
You can buy in on Amazon uk.
 
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lovinglife

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Staff Member
Moderator
Messages
5,703
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
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JJ51

Active Member
Messages
39
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Apparently it can lower BS so personally I’d be wary of using it with insulin without support from your HCP

Yes I've heard that, although I have heard a lot of people take it even if they are on insulin. I would of course discuss this with my Doc. It seems to be the best option for my symptoms. I was put on steroids to see if they would help which has the sane effect, however I was fine. Time to discuss with my Doc I think! Thanks for your post. Much appreciated.
 

JJ51

Active Member
Messages
39
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
I have been using R-ALA- 300 mg for many years and my neuropathy is stable 1500 Metf daily
Hey, how bad was your diabetic neuropathy (symptoms) Do you take 300mg in a morning? I've ordered some to take alongside pregabalin. Something has to help!
 

jjraak

Expert
Messages
8,057
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi @JJ51 .

Sorry to hear about your painful neuropathy symptoms.

A little left field here .....but

I don't have neuropathy.

However I was involved in a serious RTA that left me rather broken

Surgeons did a fine job saving my leg & piecing me back together.

But I was still rather a mess, physically & mentally (PTSD)

Endless chronic pain , mainly in my leg. (4 years)

Recently got treatment for psychological disorders because of it and psychiatrist prescribed duloxatine.

Mainly meant to treat the more mental issues but has been rather effective on the ongoing pain.

Reading up and I see it's also prescribed for neuropathy pain

As said I don't have neuropathy but the surgery on leg was quite invasive and much nerve damage was unavoidable.

It might be worth enquiring at your GP, but I'd suggest checking how it impacts BG & insulin use as well.

(It doesn't seem to affect my BG levels but I'm not on insulin)

While I'm here I might just add one more med

While broken in hospital, the least of my injuries was a broken shoulder but it caused me the most pain .

With a broken hand held together with wires and a leg broken in 4 places, that's quite some feat.

Sufficient to have me screaming in pain for 5 nights until they prescribed amitriptyline, again works on nerve pain, which sorted the pain in the shoulder out from first administration of medication.

Just a little information to offer the GP if you're desperate for medication that might dull or ease the pain you are in.

I seriously misunderstood how wearing & exhausting chronic pain can be so you have my sympathies.

Hope that helps in some small way

Best wishes you find a way to ease the pain

Another JJ
 
Last edited:

p scott

Newbie
Messages
1
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
i have been living with painful neuropathy for many years and gabapentin is the only thing that eases the pain for me.(type 2.)
 
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JJ51

Active Member
Messages
39
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi @JJ51 .

Sorry to hear about your painful neuropathy symptoms.

A little left field here .....but

I don't have neuropathy.

However I was involved in a serious RTA that left me rather broken

Surgeons did a fine job saving my leg & piecing me back together.

But I was still rather a mess, physically & mentally (PTSD)

Endless chronic pain , mainly in my leg. (4 years)

Recently got treatment for psychological disorders because of it and psychiatrist prescribed duloxatine.

Mainly meant to treat the more mental issues but has been rather effective on the ongoing pain.

Reading up and I see it's also prescribed for neuropathy pain

As said I don't have neuropathy but the surgery on leg was quite invasive and much nerve damage was unavoidable.

It might be worth enquiring at your GP, but I'd suggest checking how it impacts BG & insulin use as well.

(It doesn't seem to affect my BG levels but I'm not on insulin)

While I'm here I might just add one more med

While broken in hospital, the least of my injuries was a broken shoulder but it caused me the most pain .

With a broken hand held together with wires and a leg broken in 4 places, that's quite some feat.

Sufficient to have me screaming in pain for 5 nights until they prescribed amitriptyline, again works on nerve pain, which sorted the pain in the shoulder out from first administration of medication.

Just a little information to offer the GP if you're desperate for medication that might dull or ease the pain you are in.

I seriously misunderstood how wearing & exhausting chronic pain can be so you have my sympathies.

Hope that helps in some small way

Best wishes you find a way to ease the pain

Another JJ
I hope you are in a much better place now and glad the meds helped you.
I am not in the pain you must have been,

Mine is more Numbness in both legs and feet with pain underfoot all causing weakness and walking difficulty. I lowered my hba1c quickly and then ended up with this! I didn't know that doing a good thing could cause this disabling problem.

All the best to you too
 
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Teddysmum

Member
Messages
24
I was admitted to A@E for severe leg pain (turned out to be lumbar stenosis ) and was already on tramadol and duloxetine for back pain, but as it was Covid time, the surgeon didn't want to operate and suggested waiting, so added pregabalin which I hadn't liked previously (large weight gain), saying that it needed pairing with paracetamol. I lasted on this for my over 2 years' waiting and felt no pain from my major operation.
 
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