Newly diagnosed from Scotland

[Alexandra100]

I have numbness in my feet and hands. It isn't very bad but there anyhow. Occasionally I get a kind of burning sensation in the toes but so far I can deal with it. The assumption was that it is related to my type 2 diabetes

I don't have personal experience of this, but my two trusted sources (Dr Bernstein and Jenny Ruhl) both say that burning / tingling in the toes replacing numbness is a sign of recovery. Unfortunately you have to pass through this painful episode on the road to getting back normal sensation, but I imagine it will be much more tolerable if you know that it is temporary and positive.

 

[Alexandra100]

From this wonderful forum I found out that some members have had some success with peripheral neuropathy and R-ALA supplements. I've been taking these for about a month now with vitamin B12 and the neuropathy did improve at first but has now plateaued out. At least it is not getting any worse. If it stays the way it is I can live with it as it is presently just an irritation.

I don't know if you are restricting the carbs in your diet in order to control your bg?

PS Oh, sorry, I see you have covered this in your signature.

 

[Crocodile]

I don't know if you are restricting the carbs in your diet in order to control your bg?

PS Oh, sorry, I see you have covered this in your signature.

Yes Alexandra, that's right. I do actively keep tabs on the carbs that I eat at each meal. In my case the formulae is a little more involved but like most others have had to tailor it to my individual needs. The needs aren't always medical as I have to also fit in with the rest of my household. Basically I restrict carbs to 20g per meal but allow 30g for low GI foods that have already been vetted by testing. Occasionally I go over this on special events but make sure I have extra fats with it. Last week we had pizzas. This would cause shudders of disbelief with some around here but I've found that we're all different. I can handle the odd pizza as long as I only eat a small one and put plenty of meaty topping on it. A margherita is out of the question. The extra fat slows down digestion and I don't get a whopping spike. Takes a little longer to come back under 6.0 but I don't indulge often. My next HbA1c is due end of April. I'll see what that says. As for the numb feet, it is not too bad and the hot sensations are not too frequent these days. I can put up with it.

Glenn

 

[New2ThisType2]

Interesting. Just curious. Have all of you that have this tingling ever had your kidney functions tested? Don't read into that to suggest you must, but just curious to know if you have. I have had a slightly different experience with slight tingling that I initially believed might be diabetes related. But my numbers weren't really high and I was only 1 year from diagnosis when I first noticed it. In my case, I have to keep my potassium levels lower, at half of what a normal 100% healthy individual does and i find when I do, the tingling is non existent. This has just been my own experience so I was curious to know if many had this tingling sensation.

 

[Alexandra100]

As for the numb feet, it is not too bad and the hot sensations are not too frequent these days. I can put up with it.

Sorry, but numb feet are very bad, because next come foot ulcers, gangrene and amputations. It's your decision, but in your place I would try to cut back a bit more on carbs. to get even lower bg readings. And are you taking Metformin? That might help your bg, though not as much as carb restriction.

http://diabetesupdate.blogspot.co.uk/2008/12/diabetic-nerve-pain-and-what-you-can-do.html

Dr B says that taking Evening Proimrose oil with ALA can enhance it's effects.

 

[Alexandra100]

I was only 1 year from diagnosis when I first noticed it

Tingling /numb feet is one symptom I have not experienced, but although my highest A1c test was only 41 I have identified numerous serious symptoms that I attribute to my higher than normal bgs. The NHS and other organisations may set levels below which one is supposed not to have problems, and above which one may, but diabetes is no respecter of organisations and their rules. Also, a good A1c reveals nothing about possible damaging highs and lows especially around meals.

 

[Crocodile]

Interesting. Just curious. Have all of you that have this tingling ever had your kidney functions tested? Don't read into that to suggest you must, but just curious to know if you have. I have had a slightly different experience with slight tingling that I initially believed might be diabetes related. But my numbers weren't really high and I was only 1 year from diagnosis when I first noticed it. In my case, I have to keep my potassium levels lower, at half of what a normal 100% healthy individual does and i find when I do, the tingling is non existent. This has just been my own experience so I was curious to know if many had this tingling sensation.

My kidney function is routinely done at each 3 monthly a1c test. They are borderline but have been this way since I was a kid. Never got worse. All my life been around 105umol creatinine. Ref level is 110 so I'm just under but still in the OK one.

 

[Crocodile]

Sorry, but numb feet are very bad, because next come foot ulcers, gangrene and amputations. It's your decision, but in your place I would try to cut back a bit more on carbs. to get even lower bg readings. And are you taking Metformin? That might help your bg, though not as much as carb restriction.

http://diabetesupdate.blogspot.co.uk/2008/12/diabetic-nerve-pain-and-what-you-can-do.html

Dr B says that taking Evening Proimrose oil with ALA can enhance it's effects.

Sorry, I think you misunderstood me. The numbness is not bad and I still have feeling. It is not even noticeable most of the time. The feeling is reduced though. It isn't getting worse.

I take 1g of Metformin per day. When you say even lower bg, how low do you mean.

Glenn

 

[Ian-J]

Hi all,

Just when I thought I was doing well.......I've been side-swiped!

I was at doc the other day for blood tests.....nothing to do with diabetes, problems with sore hands/finger joints. We thought maybe I had rheumatoid issues but the tests came back negative......but did say I had Gout ever so slightly, and also RSI.

Looks like I'll be trading off a gout diet with a diabetic one.......this is gonna be fun!

Ian.

 

[rom35]

I have numbness in my feet and hands.

I had non healing cracks on my heels - I was hobbling all the time. After 6 month of BG within my target limits (3,9-7,7) the cracks disappeared. If you give your body the time without elevated glucose, body will recover.

 

[Ian-J]

Hi,

Well I have been side swiped again!......

Couple months ago developed septicemia (staphylococcus aureus) blood infection. Ended up in hospital for 2.5 weeks. Doc said after I recovered fully "you are a luck lucky guy, 1 in 5 die from the infection you got".
Then, after that I visited the doc and he said gout diagnosis was wrong, I do have athritis!

Anyways, in hospital I got Bran Flakes every morning and took a liking to them. My blood sugar was taken every day and it was low (5)......I thought great, I'll be on these Bran Flakes when I leave hospital, however, I found out from the doc that all patients who stay overnight get a daily insulin pill irrespective of whether they are diabetic or not. I didn't know!
Anyways, this took a few weeks afterward for me to find out meanwhile I was chomping on Bran Flakes not realizing the carbs in them. Oops!

2018 is a year I want to forget.

PS. Thankyou for helping out to reset my profile so I could login.

Ian.

Edited by Mod - Please do not reveal anyone's personal details on-forum

 

[Alexandra100]

Hi,

Well I have been side swiped again!......

Couple months ago developed septicemia (staphylococcus aureus) blood infection. Ended up in hospital for 2.5 weeks. Doc said after I recovered fully "you are a luck lucky guy, 1 in 5 die from the infection you got".
Then, after that I visited the doc and he said gout diagnosis was wrong, I do have athritis!

Anyways, in hospital I got Bran Flakes every morning and took a liking to them. My blood sugar was taken every day and it was low (5)......I thought great, I'll be on these Bran Flakes when I leave hospital, however, I found out from the doc that all patients who stay overnight get a daily insulin pill irrespective of whether they are diabetic or not. I didn't know!
Anyways, this took a few weeks afterward for me to find out meanwhile I was chomping on Bran Flakes not realizing the carbs in them. Oops!

2018 is a year I want to forget.

PS. Thankyou Moira for helping out to reset my profile so I could login.

Ian.

Words fail me!!! Anyway, you definitely qualify as a winner, seeing as you have survived!

 

[Alexandra100]

I found out from the doc that all patients who stay overnight get a daily insulin pill irrespective of whether they are diabetic or not. I didn't know!

Can this be true??? Why would they do that? And doesn't giving a pill without getting the patient's informed consent constitute assault? Maybe you could sue.

 

[Alexandra100]

2018 is a year I want to forget.

I do sympathise. My annus horribilis stretched from discovering my bg problems last summer, through endless-seeming health problems and tests too numerous to list, until recently. 6 months into 2018 I am now declaring the bad times behind me. I trust the same is true for you, even though you may have to forget your delicious bran flakes. Let's both make July to December worth remembering!

 

[Ian-J]

Maybe you could sue.

Nah!......they saved my life!......So I went to A&E with a excruciatingly sore neck and they took my inner temp and said it was elevated and that "something else was wrong", so the consultant took some random blood tests to get to the bottom of it whilst they parked the neck problem with morphine. 2 days later I was in an emergency/specialist ward on an IV for 2 weeks with the blood bug.
PS. The neck diagnosis in the end was "no injury/problem found" and not related medically to tje blood issue........my body was screaming.

Ian.

 

[Ian-J]

Let's both make July to December worth remembering!

I'll drink to that!

Ian.

 

[Rachox]

Hi,
....I found out from the doc that all patients who stay overnight get a daily insulin pill irrespective of whether they are diabetic or not.

Your Dr is talking rubbish, sorry but, first there’s no such thing as an insulin pill and second patients aren’t treated for diabetes whether they are diabetic or not! (36 yrs a nurse in hospital speaking here!)

 

[Ian-J]

Hi all,

HbA1c results today:-

Aug. 30th 2019 - HbA1c = 55, weight 68 kg

So, per my sig you'll see it's gone up slightly.....kinda figured it would. Doc says it's satisfactory..........but I will want to get it back down. Diet and exercise I guess need looked at. Hmmmm!

Ian.

 

[kaylz91]

Diet and exercise I guess need looked at. Hmmmm!

I see you mention in your signature you cut out high sugar content foods but no mention of reducing the carbs so possibly try that if you haven't already xx

 

[Rachox]

I agree with @kaylz91 , many Type 2s here eat low carbs as well as low sugar foods and keep our HbA1cs at non diabetic levels with no drugs at all or just Metformin. An HbA1c of 55 isn’t very high in the big scheme of things. What did you do to achieve your numbers in the 40s before, can you replicate that?