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MalcolmDavid

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Hi everybody,

I am type 2 - diagnosed about 16 months ago and treated with Metformin. I was only slightly overweight and have been a lifelong vegetarian. I have been reading the forum articles for about a month and find it very useful. I wonder if anyone else is having the same problem that I am. Only a couple of months after diagnosis I began to have problems walking. It appears that I have Peripheral Neuropathy and can now only walk short distances before finding it a real struggle to keep going. I have 'drop foot' and loss of balance. My GP does not understand how I got so bad so quickly - but I think the diagnosis was very late because I never demonstrated the classic symptoms of thirst and frequent loo visits.

I would like to hear from any other neuropathy sufferers and any ways they have discovered to improve the symptoms.
Malcolm
 
hi there and welcome to the forum,
sorry you are having problems, i cant help with the neuropathy im afraid as i dont suffer with it but im sure someone who does will be able to help you :D
 
Hi MalcolmDavid

Welcome to the forum :-)

I was suffering from neuropathy and drop foot, I used to fall all over the place and walking was difficult, I would just shuffle along, I couldnt feel if I lifted my leg high enough to step over any raised surfaces, it was just horrible, I was in a wheelchair for some time and wore a special brace.

Please read through my stories and you will find that I managed to overcome these problems, it did not happen overnight, it was a gradual process for me and took about 2 years for it to be cured completely.

Today, some 8 years later I am fit I am cycling, going to the gym, play volleyball, go skiing and running as well, so as you can see there is hope.

All the best

Karen
 
As fa r as I know keeping tight control, of BG can correct a lot of neuropathy in time. It's certainly worth a try.
what sort of numbers have you had?
 
Thanks for your comments. It is reassuring to know that there may be light at the end of the tunnel! My BGs are normally in the 5 - 7 range and my last Hb test was 5.6, so I think I have the disease under control. I will read through your notes ChocFish with interest...
 
#1 plan is to get and keep your BG numbers down. Oh good, you're already doing that! Check your postprandials about an hour after eating for unwanted spikes, if I hit 8 my toes and fingers start to go numb or start smarting for several hours.

As you have discovered, diabetic damage commonly occurs for years before you actually reach the diagnostic criterion.

Try this

http://www.diabetic-talk.org/dpn.htm

the ALA has a slight lowering effect on my BG. Over a few years some of my symptoms of autonomic neuropathy have also resolved, but some haven't, it's a long term plan.

Also be aware that often the symptoms will get worse as the nerves heal and start to conduct pain signals again.

Podiatrist visit would be useful, they can map your feet with a poky filament and a tuning fork and (hopefully) on future visits you can see the improvements.
 
Thanks for the information on ALA - sounds interesting, but expensive! Still, if it lowers the BG figures it must be well worth trying. Walking is getting more and more difficult for me now so I will try anything! Thanks again for the references. :lol:
 
MalcolmDavid said:
Thanks for the information on ALA - sounds interesting, but expensive! Still, if it lowers the BG figures it must be well worth trying. Walking is getting more and more difficult for me now so I will try anything! Thanks again for the references. :lol:
Click to expand...

Unfortunately some of my cheaper sources seem to have stopped selling it, these guys have the widest ranges

http://www.thevitaminservice.com/home.asp?info=Home

http://www.bodykind.com/default.asp

the latter have what I believe to be currently the cheapest on the market, if anyone know better let me know!
 
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