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Type 1 Numb little toe

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xjessica.rose

Member
Messages
8
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Hi all,

Bit of background; 28yo and T1D for 6 years and within healthy BMI. Diabetes control over time hasn't been amazing but since having Freestyle Libre sensors from March last year has been much better. This time last year my hba1c was 70 and now is 58 (taking into account the not so good readings of xmas indulgence, I imagine this will continue to come down).

Beginning of 2021, I got my diet back under control and started running 3 times a week. In the last 2 weeks, I have been getting shooting pains in the outer side of my left foot and little toe (seems to be when I turn on that foot) and noticed last night that it also has a numb type of sensation.

Spoke to my GP on the phone this morning who said definatively that it's a damaged nerve and will unlikely recover leaving me with a numb toe forever, nothing they can do. No other avenues explored and no examination requested.

Is this likely? I feel like the GP has basically just used my diabetes to fob me off with an explanation rather than actually trying to figure out the issue. Should I try and speak to my DSN instead, or am I overreacting and need to accept this diagnosis?

Thanks for any replies,
Jess
 
Hi @xjessica.rose

I’d definitely ask to speak to the DSN/get a second opinion. Personally I’d never accept such a definitive diagnosis of a physical condition on the basis of a telephone call alone. I’d at least want an examination as well as a full discussion of potential options.
 
In my (entirely unmedical opinion) it could just be caused by you starting to run - maybe you've damaged something somehow.

But yes as Goonergal suggested I'd want a second opinion, a quick phone call is not enough to diagnose that as being diabetes related, especially with no other checks
 
I have some experience of this with my little finger. Basically, the fingers (and toes are identical) are served by separate nerves. The one that serves your little finger also serves one side of the adjacent finger. If you check with your toes, you should have a corresponding numbness on the side of the adjacent toe.
What the doc says is tosh. I have had a number of numbness and tingling problems with my fingers and toes and they all come and go with the passage of time. The important thing is to keep your blood sugars as low as is safe for you.
 
Hi Jessica,

You're right to the feel the way you do, I think they are trying to fob you off.

Given you have had type 1 for only 6 years and your control sounds okay I would be surprised if you have irreversible damage! Given its started since running it sounds like it probably is a minor injury and may just need to refrain from excessive exercise until it is healed? Hope you get better luck with a different doctor x
 
Thank you! I've just checked again and actually it's not so much the toe, more so the outer side of the foot and toe. So from what you mention, is unlikely to be nerve damage?
 
Thanks for all the replies, I'm going to contact my DSN and investigate further. I'm starting to think it's more likely to do with the running than diabetes - fingers crossed!
 
Even if it *is* diabetic nerve damage, such nerve damage can be reversible in some (many?) instances. I went from having several numb toes and a dead feeling thumb back to normal feeling in the toes and almost normal in the thumb. I'm T2 so it may not be the closest parallel, but I can say Dr Richard Bernstein has a good video on the matter apropos T1 diabetes. Good luck with it.

 
What is the diabetes department like at your local hospital? Although I didn't get numbness, I had similar shooting pains in my right foot in late 2014. I was referred to a diabetic foot specialist at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, who has sorted out my problem to an infinitely better condition. Good luck!
 
Hi in agreement with the general consensus here , would be good and prudent to get a second opinion , whenever I’ve had problems with my feet I always get in touch with the podiatry dept, as I’m type 1 diabetic I was referred to them , and have regular “ foot appointments” I never use to but they now cut my toenails on a regular basis , let’s face it they are foot specialist apparently so maybe a good idea to get in touch, I’m in Scotland and have had appointments even during lockdown .I lost my leg 7 years ago and it was an appointment with the podiatrist who gave me the heads up about the problem in my leg not saying that this is your problem , just I found them excellent to deal with .
 
Hi there, I have no medical background but I have a similar problem which i have had for many years before I was diagnosed with T2. My problem was/is damage to the sciatic nerve caused by a back problem which I have had since my late 20s( now 75 ). Just wonder if your running has upset your sciatic nerve as your symptoms match mine exactly.
 
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