Feeling so down

[Matteo1980]

I’ve been diagnosed with T1,this june. However,i experienced its sympoms 1,5/2 years back,so there was time for the cmplications to develop in the background. Since i am out from the hospital(been in for 1 week after diagnosis), i started experiencing burning sensation and numbness in my foot. There is an unbearable pain in my knees,which is always getting worse as soon as i go to bed. Unbelievable,but more pain is coming when i am resting them. Unfortunately, I cannot sleep normally because of this pain. Maximum 1 hour sleep and then 2-3 hours literally crying I was at doctors by several times and tried many painkillers,but nothing helps. I take every evening 2 Nytol pills to get some sleep. The real problem is,this affects my mood also and I care much less with BG level and proper insulin doses. Sometimes i do not care at all. Not to mention working,how harder is that!? I am a grill chef,so standing almost all day on my painful legs. However,knees hurt less while walking or standing. I have a serious fatigue,i feel tired all the time, i want to sleep every minute. Just am unable to work properly,it is a nightmare now. I have to ask for extra break time all the time,and running in the staffroom to get some sleep on the sofa. Such a miracle,at work on the sofa,the pain is less bothering. So this is my life at the moment,and do not really see any light at the end of the tunnel. Anyway,I wish you all the best!

 

[Antje77]

That sounds horrible!
May I ask what medication you are on? You might be experiencing side effects. I know a lot of pains and aches disappeared for me when I switched from Lantus to Tresiba, and if you're on statins you might want to look into them as well.
Fatigue and tired seems inevitable if you can't sleep properly and are fighting pain all day as well, but part of the fatigue may be due to high bg. At least that might get better if you try to start caring for insulin and bg level again.

Hope things'll change for the better for you in the near future, good luck!

 

[DavidGrahamJones]

I’ve been diagnosed with T1,this june.

Sorry to hear that, I hope that the good members of this forum will be able to provide some good advice. Diabetes is a tricky little bu??er, all type Is will have slightly different experiences as will all type IIs. Hopefully in this large group of people there will be someone with similar experiences.

i started experiencing burning sensation and numbness in my foot.

If your blood glucose has been all over the lace for as much as 2 years and is now under better controlled, you will feel different. Just the change in BG will have an effect, even though your BG might be better. I'm type II and have experienced the burning sensation and numbness, on and off for several years. Peripheral neuropathy is a very common symptom of diabetes. I might be lucky in that I seem to have a high pain threshold, maybe too much cocodomol use over the years. I have regular reflexology and although the reflexology is helping other problems (muscular spasms in my back) I think the manipulation of my feet helps my feet. I go to a podiatrist regularly as well and I feel that keeping my toes and feet well manicured is helping. I also use a Circulation Booster, it's supposed to help with poor circulation. I'm not claiming any miracles, but it helps.

There is an unbearable pain in my knees,which is always getting worse as soon as i go to bed.

I had very bad arthritis for many years before I had them replaced, unlike your experience my pain was worse when I was standing although never going when I laid down. Has anyone suggested an x-ray to see if it might be arthritis? I used all sorts over the years and apart from oral painkillers I did use things like Tiger Balm, different painkiller gels, FlexiSeq, all of which were partially successful.

2 Nytol pills to get some sleep.

It might need something stronger, nytol is an antihistamine which causes drowsiness. As it seems to be pain in the knees that's causing the problem, maybe further investigation as to what exactly is causing the pain. It could be diabetes related but there again . . . . . .

I am a grill chef,so standing almost all day on my painful legs.

Not making life any easier, not sure what to suggest.

I have a serious fatigue,i feel tired all the time, i want to sleep every minute. Just am unable to work properly,it is a nightmare now. I have to ask for extra break time all the time,and running in the staffroom to get some sleep on the sofa.

The fatigue and tiredeness affects most diabetics, I know only too well the feeling of being dead on my feet yet knowing there's another x minutes or hours to the end of the shift. It isn't easy.

All the very best, I hope fellow members will have some more practical advice, keep your chin up.

 

[Alison54321]

There is something called insulin neuritis, that appears when people who have had bad control for a while, have nerve damage, and improve their control quite rapidly.

It might be something like that that you are experiencing, if you've had the symptoms for a while.

I read about this recently, where people who had running high blood sugars, had just got freestyle libre, and as a result had much better control, and started to get all sorts of weird pains.

If this is what you are experiencing it will, hopefully, get better.

There isn't much information about it, but here's a explanation of what it is.

https://pn.bmj.com/content/early/2015/09/21/practneurol-2015-001215

Trying to control your blood sugar, while eating food containing lots of antioxidants will help, because the damage to nerves is a form of oxidative stress, and vitamin c, in particular is good for protecting nerves.

Hopefully this is what's happening, and it will improve over time. It'll probably take a few months, but don't get too despondent, as these horrible pains are probably a sign that things are getting better, it would have been far worse if you hadn't been diagnosed. Just eat healthy, and keep good control, and hopefully things will improve soon.

 

[Matteo1980]

That sounds horrible!
May I ask what medication you are on? You might be experiencing side effects. I know a lot of pains and aches disappeared for me when I switched from Lantus to Tresiba, and if you're on statins you might want to look into them as well.
Fatigue and tired seems inevitable if you can't sleep properly and are fighting pain all day as well, but part of the fatigue may be due to high bg. At least that might get better if you try to start caring for insulin and bg level again.

Hope things'll change for the better for you in the near future, good luck!

First of all,thanks for your reply. I never took statins,rather duloxetine,naproxyn and amitriptyline. I am novo rapid and levemir now. I do not tend momently stab levemir,though.

 

[Matteo1980]

Sorry to hear that, I hope that the good members of this forum will be able to provide some good advice. Diabetes is a tricky little bu??er, all type Is will have slightly different experiences as will all type IIs. Hopefully in this large group of people there will be someone with similar experiences.



If your blood glucose has been all over the lace for as much as 2 years and is now under better controlled, you will feel different. Just the change in BG will have an effect, even though your BG might be better. I'm type II and have experienced the burning sensation and numbness, on and off for several years. Peripheral neuropathy is a very common symptom of diabetes. I might be lucky in that I seem to have a high pain threshold, maybe too much cocodomol use over the years. I have regular reflexology and although the reflexology is helping other problems (muscular spasms in my back) I think the manipulation of my feet helps my feet. I go to a podiatrist regularly as well and I feel that keeping my toes and feet well manicured is helping. I also use a Circulation Booster, it's supposed to help with poor circulation. I'm not claiming any miracles, but it helps.



I had very bad arthritis for many years before I had them replaced, unlike your experience my pain was worse when I was standing although never going when I laid down. Has anyone suggested an x-ray to see if it might be arthritis? I used all sorts over the years and apart from oral painkillers I did use things like Tiger Balm, different painkiller gels, FlexiSeq, all of which were partially successful.



It might need something stronger, nytol is an antihistamine which causes drowsiness. As it seems to be pain in the knees that's causing the problem, maybe further investigation as to what exactly is causing the pain. It could be diabetes related but there again . . . . . .



Not making life any easier, not sure what to suggest.



The fatigue and tiredeness affects most diabetics, I know only too well the feeling of being dead on my feet yet knowing there's another x minutes or hours to the end of the shift. It isn't easy.

All the very best, I hope fellow members will have some more practical advice, keep your chin up.

Thanks a lot for you reply!!

 

[Matteo1980]

There is something called insulin neuritis, that appears when people who have had bad control for a while, have nerve damage, and improve their control quite rapidly.

It might be something like that that you are experiencing, if you've had the symptoms for a while.

I read about this recently, where people who had running high blood sugars, had just got freestyle libre, and as a result had much better control, and started to get all sorts of weird pains.

If this is what you are experiencing it will, hopefully, get better.

There isn't much information about it, but here's a explanation of what it is.

https://pn.bmj.com/content/early/2015/09/21/practneurol-2015-001215

Trying to control your blood sugar, while eating food containing lots of antioxidants will help, because the damage to nerves is a form of oxidative stress, and vitamin c, in particular is good for protecting nerves.

Hopefully this is what's happening, and it will improve over time. It'll probably take a few months, but don't get too despondent, as these horrible pains are probably a sign that things are getting better, it would have been far worse if you hadn't been diagnosed. Just eat healthy, and keep good control, and hopefully things will improve soon.

Thanks a lot for your advices!

 

[JAT1]

I’ve been diagnosed with T1,this june. However,i experienced its sympoms 1,5/2 years back,so there was time for the cmplications to develop in the background. Since i am out from the hospital(been in for 1 week after diagnosis), i started experiencing burning sensation and numbness in my foot. There is an unbearable pain in my knees,which is always getting worse as soon as i go to bed. Unbelievable,but more pain is coming when i am resting them. Unfortunately, I cannot sleep normally because of this pain. Maximum 1 hour sleep and then 2-3 hours literally crying I was at doctors by several times and tried many painkillers,but nothing helps. I take every evening 2 Nytol pills to get some sleep. The real problem is,this affects my mood also and I care much less with BG level and proper insulin doses. Sometimes i do not care at all. Not to mention working,how harder is that!? I am a grill chef,so standing almost all day on my painful legs. However,knees hurt less while walking or standing. I have a serious fatigue,i feel tired all the time, i want to sleep every minute. Just am unable to work properly,it is a nightmare now. I have to ask for extra break time all the time,and running in the staffroom to get some sleep on the sofa. Such a miracle,at work on the sofa,the pain is less bothering. So this is my life at the moment,and do not really see any light at the end of the tunnel. Anyway,I wish you all the best!

My heart goes out to you for what you are enduring. Since you say that the pain is worse when you are trying to sleep for the night and not as bad when you are napping at work - maybe it's the exercise that is helping. Maybe, just maybe, when you are crying at night, if you did little sessions of 5 minutes exercise on your knees it may help. The most troubling thing in your post is the despair that is creeping into your mind and causing you to not care about your blood glucose levels and taking insulin, because it is the maintenance of good BG and caring about your diet and health in general that is going to bring about the remission of all the complications. I was diagnosed Type 1 at the end of July this year and have experienced remission in a number of complications I was suffering and I am sure it is due to the careful attention I pay to managing the diabetes. Ultimately it is optimism that cures everything I believe. I hope you find the strength to hang in and keep fighting.

 

[Alison54321]

People who have been recently diagnosed are often very tired for a while, if you've had symptoms for a long time it will have been very draining.

High blood sugars mean we lose more magnesium, and probably other vitamins, and minerals, in our urine, so you may be suffering the after effects of that as well. It will take a while to replenish them.

A magnesium supplement might help, as well, chelated magnesium is supposed to be best. You might also maybe want to take a vitamin c supplement, this is because all that time you had those high blood sugars the antioxidants you were eating had to work extremely hard. People with diabetes often are deficient in vitamin c, and a long time before diagnosis will make that worse.

This won't last for ever, having gone so long without being diagnosed will have caused problems, but eating well, and good blood sugar control should mean you're start to feel better after a while.

 

[PenguinMum]

Matteo I cant offer much help as a T2 but I feel for you. Being a chef is a very hard job for anyone let alone someone with diabetes. I imagine its difficult to eat when you should and when you can you just grab whats easily available and thats hard. Dont give up the challenge whatever you do. Take your meds and only eat what is suitable for YOU. I know jobs can be all encompassing but you and your health matter the most. Best wishes.

 

[Matteo1980]

My heart goes out to you for what you are enduring. Since you say that the pain is worse when you are trying to sleep for the night and not as bad when you are napping at work - maybe it's the exercise that is helping. Maybe, just maybe, when you are crying at night, if you did little sessions of 5 minutes exercise on your knees it may help. The most troubling thing in your post is the despair that is creeping into your mind and causing you to not care about your blood glucose levels and taking insulin, because it is the maintenance of good BG and caring about your diet and health in general that is going to bring about the remission of all the complications. I was diagnosed Type 1 at the end of July this year and have experienced remission in a number of complications I was suffering and I am sure it is due to the careful attention I pay to managing the diabetes. Ultimately it is optimism that cures everything I believe. I hope you find the strength to hang in and keep fighting.

Such a lovely input,thank you so much for that. The real prob is somewhere in my mind i know what would be right,but it is just too much at the same time. Exercise might be helping,I will give it a go,nothing to lose!

 

[Matteo1980]

People who have been recently diagnosed are often very tired for a while, if you've had symptoms for a long time it will have been very draining.

High blood sugars mean we lose more magnesium, and probably other vitamins, and minerals, in our urine, so you may be suffering the after effects of that as well. It will take a while to replenish them.

A magnesium supplement might help, as well, chelated magnesium is supposed to be best. You might also maybe want to take a vitamin c supplement, this is because all that time you had those high blood sugars the antioxidants you were eating had to work extremely hard. People with diabetes often are deficient in vitamin c, and a long time before diagnosis will make that worse.

This won't last for ever, having gone so long without being diagnosed will have caused problems, but eating well, and good blood sugar control should mean you're start to feel better after a while.

Alright,will ask about the supplements in my nominated pharmacy! Thanks a lot for your supporting words!

 

[Matteo1980]

Matteo I cant offer much help as a T2 but I feel for you. Being a chef is a very hard job for anyone let alone someone with diabetes. I imagine its difficult to eat when you should and when you can you just grab whats easily available and thats hard. Dont give up the challenge whatever you do. Take your meds and only eat what is suitable for YOU. I know jobs can be all encompassing but you and your health matter the most. Best wishes.

Thank you very-very much,my beat wishes to you,too!!

 

[Matteo1980]

Thanks a lot guys for your kind and supporting words. I already feel a bit better!

 

[Antje77]

First of all,thanks for your reply. I never took statins,rather duloxetine,naproxyn and amitriptyline. I am novo rapid and levemir now. I do not tend momently stab levemir,though.

Are you not taking your levemir? Why not? And how are your blood sugars?

 

[Matteo1980]

I was taking from june till end of september. Then i started neglecting BG,since the unstoppable pain. I have unsatisfiable hunger for sweets,so this really ruins the levels. A weekly average 11,5,was 7,5 before. But honestly never noticed any effect on long term insulin. Used to have lantus before,doctor said levemir is going to be better. Have to take 11units morning and evening. But no better result,at all!

 

[Elaine p]

I’ve been diagnosed with T1,this june. However,i experienced its sympoms 1,5/2 years back,so there was time for the cmplications to develop in the background. Since i am out from the hospital(been in for 1 week after diagnosis), i started experiencing burning sensation and numbness in my foot. There is an unbearable pain in my knees,which is always getting worse as soon as i go to bed. Unbelievable,but more pain is coming when i am resting them. Unfortunately, I cannot sleep normally because of this pain. Maximum 1 hour sleep and then 2-3 hours literally crying I was at doctors by several times and tried many painkillers,but nothing helps. I take every evening 2 Nytol pills to get some sleep. The real problem is,this affects my mood also and I care much less with BG level and proper insulin doses. Sometimes i do not care at all. Not to mention working,how harder is that!? I am a grill chef,so standing almost all day on my painful legs. However,knees hurt less while walking or standing. I have a serious fatigue,i feel tired all the time, i want to sleep every minute. Just am unable to work properly,it is a nightmare now. I have to ask for extra break time all the time,and running in the staffroom to get some sleep on the sofa. Such a miracle,at work on the sofa,the pain is less bothering. So this is my life at the moment,and do not really see any light at the end of the tunnel. Anyway,I wish you all the best!

Hi Matteo, I also have the unbearable pain, all the time really but much worse at night. I hadn’t slept for more than a month so went to the doctors yesterday as I felt so desperate. I notice you take duloxetine, can I ask if this is for depression? I don’t want to be nosy but I am prescribed duloxetine for depression and yesterday the doctor gave me mirtazapine 45mg to help with the sleeping and codeine to manage the pain. I took a mirtazapine yesterday morning and another at bedtime (you’re only supposed to take one at bedtime but I felt very desperate at the time I couldn’t help myself) but I slept like a baby and I can’t describe the relief I feel today. The codeine has taken the edge off the pain and tomorrow I will try 2 pills (it’s ok, that’s what the doctor has prescribed) Getting plenty of quality rest certainly helps with all aspects of life. Hope you find some relief soon, best wishes x

 

[Matteo1980]

Hi Matteo, I also have the unbearable pain, all the time really but much worse at night. I hadn’t slept for more than a month so went to the doctors yesterday as I felt so desperate. I notice you take duloxetine, can I ask if this is for depression? I don’t want to be nosy but I am prescribed duloxetine for depression and yesterday the doctor gave me mirtazapine 45mg to help with the sleeping and codeine to manage the pain. I took a mirtazapine yesterday morning and another at bedtime (you’re only supposed to take one at bedtime but I felt very desperate at the time I couldn’t help myself) but I slept like a baby and I can’t describe the relief I feel today. The codeine has taken the edge off the pain and tomorrow I will try 2 pills (it’s ok, that’s what the doctor has prescribed) Getting plenty of quality rest certainly helps with all aspects of life. Hope you find some relief soon, best wishes x

I got duloxetine for the knee pain,as some antidepressants are used for peripheral nerve pain relief. Apart from losing my good appetite,did not notice any changes,so i stopped taking it. For you,did duloxetine work? What is the exact name of codeine you take? Simply codeine? I will ask my GP for that pills you take,might work!? Where do you have pain,btw? Thanks a lot for answer

 

[Elaine p]

I got duloxetine for the knee pain,as some antidepressants are used for peripheral nerve pain relief. Apart from losing my good appetite,did not notice any changes,so i stopped taking it. For you,did duloxetine work? What is the exact name of codeine you take? Simply codeine? I will ask my GP for that pills you take,might work!? Where do you have pain,btw? Thanks a lot for answer

My pain started when I stopped taking the duloxetine (this may just be a coincidence as I also stopped other meds at the same time)i was on 120mg but I read that duloxetine helps nerve pain so I may have been getting nerve pain symptoms and meds to alieviate the pain without realising it. The pain started in my wrists, hands, feet and ankles, then started in my knees with my left knee being really painful. The past week i’ve got pain in the left side of my back. The codeine is called codeine phosphate 30mg and I can take 1 or 2 four times a day. The pain hasn’t disappeared, but it’s now more of a dull ache and that coupled with a good night’s sleep (thanks to mirtazapine) i’m much more positive about facing each day. I think there are much more powerful pain relief drugs out there so do talk to your doctor. Good luck

 

[Matteo1980]

My pain started when I stopped taking the duloxetine (this may just be a coincidence as I also stopped other meds at the same time)i was on 120mg but I read that duloxetine helps nerve pain so I may have been getting nerve pain symptoms and meds to alieviate the pain without realising it. The pain started in my wrists, hands, feet and ankles, then started in my knees with my left knee being really painful. The past week i’ve got pain in the left side of my back. The codeine is called codeine phosphate 30mg and I can take 1 or 2 four times a day. The pain hasn’t disappeared, but it’s now more of a dull ache and that coupled with a good night’s sleep (thanks to mirtazapine) i’m much more positive about facing each day. I think there are much more powerful pain relief drugs out there so do talk to your doctor. Good luck

Must be,yeah,but they seem to be unapproachable,since whatever my GP recommend,that simply doesn’t work at all. That is why i am hopeless.