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itching, painful, tingling feet!

G

goji

Well-Known Member
Messages
251
Hi

Just wondering if anyone can help.

I was doing quite well with BS control up until Christmas (Hba1c = 6.4), however the last few months I loosened up on my control a bit - this was in part due to diet and in part as I started taking steroids. Instead of fastings being low (4-5) the last few months they were higher (6,7) and I have had a higher incidence of 8's and 9's during the day. I didn't have any noticeable problems during this time.

Anyway this last week I decided to do something about the high readings and tighten up the control - I raised basal to counteract the effect of steroids and I am now getting readings of 4-5 again in the morning. However.... this improved control has been accompanied by terrible sensations in my feet, pain, tingling, itching etc. :shock: It is worse at night. I thought that lowering my sugars would help prevent neuropathy, not induce it.

Has anyone had this happen to them?

Also I should mention that while my blood sugars were higher, I was off my feet due to another illness for a couple of months and have just started to be up and about more and walking. Would this have an added affect? Also in the last few weeks I started taking Benfothiamine to try and prevent neuropathy (!?!) :?:

If it is neuropathy - is there anything I can do? I can't imagine how people live with this feeling for years and years. :cry:

Goji
 
Hi goji,
Not an expert on neuropathy. Have read that when your sugars have been high for a while you may start neuropathy and when your sugars go down again it can be quite painful as the nerves adjust to better control. I suppose you could say that it has to get worse before it gets better. Perhaps whilst you were off your feet some damage was being done that you were not aware of.

Hope this makes sense and I am sure a more qualified expert will come along. I have answered you because it can get quite frustrating awaiting a reply.

Regards,
Catherine.
 
Since I started lowering my BS my neuropathy has become considerably more painful - socks are to be worn only when essential. As you say, it can be particularly bad during the night. Podiatrist told me nerves would need time to adjust to new levels, but pain would ease eventually. Now have some feeling back in soles of my feet as well.
 
I suffer also from similar problems in my feet and legs (which is actually what led me to find out I was type 2 diabetic, last summer). My doctor had no advice, but from the internet I found out about alpha lipoic acid, and have been taking 120mg three times a day. I am convinced it has helped me - the problems haven't vanished, but are better. I'd be interested to know if anybody else has had positive experiences with ALA for neuropathy, and any other ways people have successfully dealt with it.
 
Thanks guys for your suggestions. It is very uncomfortable - I think I will be driven to distraction if it continues.

The thing I don't get is that I've never had neuropathy before and I only went high for the last 6 weeks (maybe Hba1c around 7.2 instead of 6.4) so I find it strange that it would come on all of a sudden now that I am lowering the BS down again.

If it doesn't clear I will try the ALA but I read that ALA messes with thyroid function. :?
 

It was recommended on a website which is currently unavailable, AFAICR the protocol was 300 - 600mg ALA and 500 - 1000mg Evening Primrose Oil. Several people have reported success. #1 plan is to keep BG down, my peripheral neuropathy can come back if I spike above 8 or so. Long term there has also been an improvement in autonomic neuropathy but this took many months.

The ALA has also achieved a small but consistent improvement in BG and especially in controlling my overenthusiastic liver. Some people report needing to reduce other meds or insulin, some don;t.
 
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