• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2026 Survey »

Neuropathy symptoms dismissed

M

Mum23boys

Member
Messages
10
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Other
Hi all,

I was just wondering if anyone else has symptoms dismissed by Health Care professionals?

A bit of background, I was diagnosed in January 2026 with an HbA1c of 100, followed by a confirmation HbA1c of 92 12 days later as told won’t diagnose on a single result. I had already started making dietary changes between tests.
When the ‘confirmation’ result came through, it was coded by GP as needing no further action. I questioned this, and fought to be seen by nurse at GP surgery. Started on Metformin & Dapagliflozin and told to return in 3 months for repeat. In meantime had foot checks etc, all good.
About 2-3 weeks before repeat bloods, started experiencing pain in my legs & feet. Thinking sound much like neuropathy. Nothing was easing when it struck, tried Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, Epsom salt soaks, massage. But at that point intermittent and uncomfortable.
The 2 nights before my appointment with nurse for review of results (April) I barely slept as was so painful constantly. Thought I would mention to her that I was having this pain then.
I was told that due to an improvement in my HbA1c (49), it was probably my body regulating now sugars more controlled.
Sent me link to self refer to Podiatrist ‘if that bothered by it’. I did this and am awaiting a response.
Since then it has been becoming increasingly more frequent, and more painful. Waking me some nights, unable to get back to sleep if wake due to pain. I am getting really frustrated as it’s painful to be on my feet for long, but also painful to sit for long, and seems worse at night when resting.
My feet are not cold at all, so not concerned it’s circulation issue. I just don’t know what to do to ease it, and nurse seems to think I am exaggerating.

I feel really let down/ alone with this. I don’t want to pester already busy professionals, or waste my time trying to make someone listen who obviously feel there is no issue.

Has anyone else experienced these symptoms when ‘in target range’ and it has resolved by itself?

Thanks for reading, sorry it’s a bit of a ramble.

Any advice welcome!
 
Thank you! How did you manage it? Did you find anything to help?
I feel like I have tried so much to no avail but nurse basically said to just get on with it other than sending me to self refer to podiatrist.
 
Mum23boys said:
Thank you! How did you manage it? Did you find anything to help?
I feel like I have tried so much to no avail but nurse basically said to just get on with it other than sending me to self refer to podiatri
Click to expand...

Mum23boys said:
Hi all,

I was just wondering if anyone else has symptoms dismissed by Health Care professionals?

A bit of background, I was diagnosed in January 2026 with an HbA1c of 100, followed by a confirmation HbA1c of 92 12 days later as told won’t diagnose on a single result. I had already started making dietary changes between tests.
When the ‘confirmation’ result came through, it was coded by GP as needing no further action. I questioned this, and fought to be seen by nurse at GP surgery. Started on Metformin & Dapagliflozin and told to return in 3 months for repeat. In meantime had foot checks etc, all good.
About 2-3 weeks before repeat bloods, started experiencing pain in my legs & feet. Thinking sound much like neuropathy. Nothing was easing when it struck, tried Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, Epsom salt soaks, massage. But at that point intermittent and uncomfortable.
The 2 nights before my appointment with nurse for review of results (April) I barely slept as was so painful constantly. Thought I would mention to her that I was having this pain then.
I was told that due to an improvement in my HbA1c (49), it was probably my body regulating now sugars more controlled.
Sent me link to self refer to Podiatrist ‘if that bothered by it’. I did this and am awaiting a response.
Since then it has been becoming increasingly more frequent, and more painful. Waking me some nights, unable to get back to sleep if wake due to pain. I am getting really frustrated as it’s painful to be on my feet for long, but also painful to sit for long, and seems worse at night when resting.
My feet are not cold at all, so not concerned it’s circulation issue. I just don’t know what to do to ease it, and nurse seems to think I am exaggerating.

I feel really let down/ alone with this. I don’t want to pester already busy professionals, or waste my time trying to make someone listen who obviously feel there is no issue.

Has anyone else experienced these symptoms when ‘in target range’ and it has resolved by itself?

Thanks for reading, sorry it’s a bit of a ramble.

Any advice welcome!
Click to expand...
My understanding is that the NHS won't refer to a diabetic podiatrist unless you've lost sensation in your feet. In my view, if you can find a good podiatrist, it's worth self-referring, even if it's for a one-off. Congratulations on reducing your A1c.
 
Mum23boys said:
Thank you! How did you manage it? Did you find anything to help?
I feel like I have tried so much to no avail but nurse basically said to just get on with it other than sending me to self refer to podiatrist.
Click to expand...
Not much helped a lot early on. It was pretty bad for a few weeks, and then I saw pretty steady improvement for a few weeks. I would say about 50% better in a few weeks following the worst, but improvement was slow from then on. For me, I would have good weeks, followed by bad. Different than typically neuropathy from what I have read.

Anyway, it slowly got better over time overall. This is 7 years later now for me, and I still have what I would call flare ups, but manageable for the most part. Still annoying at times for sure.

From what I have read though, for most it should go away. Hoping it goes quickly for you.
 
Mum23boys said:
Hi all,

I was just wondering if anyone else has symptoms dismissed by Health Care professionals?

A bit of background, I was diagnosed in January 2026 with an HbA1c of 100, followed by a confirmation HbA1c of 92 12 days later as told won’t diagnose on a single result. I had already started making dietary changes between tests.
When the ‘confirmation’ result came through, it was coded by GP as needing no further action. I questioned this, and fought to be seen by nurse at GP surgery. Started on Metformin & Dapagliflozin and told to return in 3 months for repeat. In meantime had foot checks etc, all good.
About 2-3 weeks before repeat bloods, started experiencing pain in my legs & feet. Thinking sound much like neuropathy. Nothing was easing when it struck, tried Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, Epsom salt soaks, massage. But at that point intermittent and uncomfortable.
The 2 nights before my appointment with nurse for review of results (April) I barely slept as was so painful constantly. Thought I would mention to her that I was having this pain then.
I was told that due to an improvement in my HbA1c (49), it was probably my body regulating now sugars more controlled.
Sent me link to self refer to Podiatrist ‘if that bothered by it’. I did this and am awaiting a response.
Since then it has been becoming increasingly more frequent, and more painful. Waking me some nights, unable to get back to sleep if wake due to pain. I am getting really frustrated as it’s painful to be on my feet for long, but also painful to sit for long, and seems worse at night when resting.
My feet are not cold at all, so not concerned it’s circulation issue. I just don’t know what to do to ease it, and nurse seems to think I am exaggerating.

I feel really let down/ alone with this. I don’t want to pester already busy professionals, or waste my time trying to make someone listen who obviously feel there is no issue.

Has anyone else experienced these symptoms when ‘in target range’ and it has resolved by itself?

Thanks for reading, sorry it’s a bit of a ramble.

Any advice welcome!
Click to expand...
I had quite bad neuropathy in my feet starting when my HbA1c was around 44/45 and rising. It was undiagnosed as diabetic neuropathy "because my blood glucose wasn't high enough". I was given some pain relief that had no effect at all.

It went very quickly (within weeks) as I got my BG into normal range - that is, under 42. I have some permanent damage but it's really only a mild tingle and it's definitely not pain.
 
Back
Top