Type 2 neuropathy in feet

TallRod

Newbie
Messages
1
Type of diabetes
Type 2
I have neuropathy in my feet. How can I get more feeling back in my feet and heal the nerves in my feet?
 

KennyA

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Staff Member
Moderator
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3,375
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi TallRod and welcome to the forums

I had quite severe neuropathy starting around ten years ago - stabbing pains, pins and needles, numbness, burning feet, that sort of thing. My HbA1c would have been around 43 or 44 when it started.

It was much worse at night. It's caused by high blood sugar levels in your body attacking the coverings of nerves. The longer the nerves, the more likely they are to be damaged so it's often the feet that are affected first. The Handbook of Diabetes by Bilous and Donnelly, which is the current NHS textbook, isn't really very helpful for those of us with neuropathy - there aren't any medications that work dependably. That said, that's the NHS medication approach.

I found that after reducing my BG to normal levels it cleared up my neuropathy very quickly - it had gone in a few weeks. I no longer have the pain or burning. I do have a residual slight tingle in both feet that's probably permanent damage (over four years now) but which isn't pain and is barely noticeable most of the time.
 

Prancy

Well-Known Member
Messages
373
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Hi TallRod and welcome to the forums

I had quite severe neuropathy starting around ten years ago - stabbing pains, pins and needles, numbness, burning feet, that sort of thing. My HbA1c would have been around 43 or 44 when it started.

It was much worse at night. It's caused by high blood sugar levels in your body attacking the coverings of nerves. The longer the nerves, the more likely they are to be damaged so it's often the feet that are affected first. The Handbook of Diabetes by Bilous and Donnelly, which is the current NHS textbook, isn't really very helpful for those of us with neuropathy - there aren't any medications that work dependably. That said, that's the NHS medication approach.

I found that after reducing my BG to normal levels it cleared up my neuropathy very quickly - it had gone in a few weeks. I no longer have the pain or burning. I do have a residual slight tingle in both feet that's probably permanent damage (over four years now) but which isn't pain and is barely noticeable most of the time.
How were you diagnosed? I’m type 1 and thought I had neuropathy, but after EMG and other tests, my neurologist said no. So, I’m trying to figure it out. I had some burning, but that left. I never had any pain or stabbing feeling. Just slight numbness. My endo and podiatrist say I have good circulation and sensation.

It seems the numbness fluctuates. Does that sound right? Anyway, my BG management has improved over the last few months. Was in 7 range and now fluctuating in 6 range, some high 5, so…..that should help, whatever it is.
 

KennyA

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Staff Member
Moderator
Messages
3,375
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
Diagnosed via HbA1c. Suddenly the symptoms I'd had for years (that hadn't ever been recognised as diabetic symptoms) became diabetic symptoms. Because it went away so quickly, the medics never ever had to do anything about it.

There are several other causes of neuropathy (eg B12 deficiency or uraemia) so it isn't always diabetes.

I use the current NHS textbook (Bilous and Donnelly) as a way of working out what the likely reaction of the health service is going to be should I take something along to them. The "diabetic neuropathy" section has a lot of description of how the various neuropathies might present, what might cause them, etc. but nothing much on what might help the patient, either in terms of pain relief or removing the condition entirely.

However. Most of the material quoted is however from diabetic patients with long-standing and poorly-controlled diabetes (I presume because these are the people who use most health service resources) where a lot of physical damage has already been done.

I don't think it follows that newly symptomatic or newly diagnosed people should be viewed in the same way.
 
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Art Of Flowers

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Messages
1,299
Type of diabetes
I reversed my Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Statins
When I experienced tingling in my fingers and brain fog I took vitamin B12 and Alpha Lipoic Acid supplements for this. ALA also reduces blood sugar.
 
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Prancy

Well-Known Member
Messages
373
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
My B12 was really low and I took injections for 6 weeks. Then, went on oral. It came up significantly. I lost a lot of weight, on purpose, but have seen a nutritionist to ensure diet is right. My A1c numbers haven’t been terrible, but I have been T1 for almost 25 years. No diabetic eye or kidney damage and my cardiac health is good too, (No plaque according to recent carotid ultrasound.

This really is bothering me. I’m also exploring if this could be from my statin. I’ve read they can cause it.
 
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