I have only been diagnosed 3 months ago. My levels are not that high but I get a burning pain in my left thigh and both feed especially after eating a meal or a small drink.
Any ideas
Any ideas
Pain in legs and feet
- Thread starter berty143
- Start Date
Alison Campbell
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- 1,443
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
Hi and welcome to the forum
Does this sound familiar https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-complications/diabetes-neuropathy.html
Have you spoke to a medical professional about your symptoms?
I am tagging @daisy1 for a new member information post for you.
Does this sound familiar https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-complications/diabetes-neuropathy.html
Have you spoke to a medical professional about your symptoms?
I am tagging @daisy1 for a new member information post for you.
daisy1
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@berty143
Hello Berty and welcome to the Forum
Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask as many questions as you want and someone will be able to help.
BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS
Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.
A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 235,000 people who are demonstrating this.
On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.
The role of carbohydrate
Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.
If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.
The bad news
Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.
The good news
People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.
Controlling your carbs
The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:
A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.
The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.
Choosing better carbohydrates
The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.
Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.
Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.
Eating what works for you
Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.
To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.
The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:
Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
Access to blood glucose test strips
The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:
Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.
You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.
Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.
Hello Berty and welcome to the Forum
Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask as many questions as you want and someone will be able to help.BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS
Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.
A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 235,000 people who are demonstrating this.
On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.
The role of carbohydrate
Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.
If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.
The bad news
Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.
The good news
People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.
Controlling your carbs
The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:
- Reduce your carbohydrate intake
- Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates
A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.
The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.
Choosing better carbohydrates
The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.
Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.
Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.
Eating what works for you
Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.
To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.
The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:
Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
- Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
- Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
- Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
Access to blood glucose test strips
The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:
- structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
- self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education
Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.
You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.
Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.
- Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why
- Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
Thank you all so much for the replies. I got diagnosed around October last year and my H1c was 62.
I initially cut out all sugars but didn’t fully understand the problem with carbs.
I’ve struggled over Christmas being good and don’t really know what to eat to be right.
My subsequent H1c checks have been 58, 54 and the last one was 50.
I now have I testing kit and I am on 2 x 500mg of metformin and feel that my blood is fairly well managed but the pain in my left foot and left thigh is quite extreme.
My recent prick tests are between 5-6 mmol before food and between 5.5-7.2 after food.
I feel I’m going in the right direction but this burning can start even after just a cup of tea
I did have a one off treat 2 weeks ago in the form of some strawberry trifle. I was 5.5 before it but only 5.7 2 hours after. How can this be?????
My real name is Lee and I am a firefighter. I was 13.5 stone before diagnosis and I’ve dropped to 12 stone.
Help!!!!
I initially cut out all sugars but didn’t fully understand the problem with carbs.
I’ve struggled over Christmas being good and don’t really know what to eat to be right.
My subsequent H1c checks have been 58, 54 and the last one was 50.
I now have I testing kit and I am on 2 x 500mg of metformin and feel that my blood is fairly well managed but the pain in my left foot and left thigh is quite extreme.
My recent prick tests are between 5-6 mmol before food and between 5.5-7.2 after food.
I feel I’m going in the right direction but this burning can start even after just a cup of tea
I did have a one off treat 2 weeks ago in the form of some strawberry trifle. I was 5.5 before it but only 5.7 2 hours after. How can this be?????
My real name is Lee and I am a firefighter. I was 13.5 stone before diagnosis and I’ve dropped to 12 stone.
Help!!!!
Guzzler
Master
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Thank you all so much for the replies. I got diagnosed around October last year and my H1c was 62.
I initially cut out all sugars but didn’t fully understand the problem with carbs.
I’ve struggled over Christmas being good and don’t really know what to eat to be right.
My subsequent H1c checks have been 58, 54 and the last one was 50.
I now have I testing kit and I am on 2 x 500mg of metformin and feel that my blood is fairly well managed but the pain in my left foot and left thigh is quite extreme.
My recent prick tests are between 5-6 mmol before food and between 5.5-7.2 after food.
I feel I’m going in the right direction but this burning can start even after just a cup of tea
I did have a one off treat 2 weeks ago in the form of some strawberry trifle. I was 5.5 before it but only 5.7 2 hours after. How can this be?????
My real name is Lee and I am a firefighter. I was 13.5 stone before diagnosis and I’ve dropped to 12 stone.
Help!!!!
Well done on your progress, great work. I will not say that your problem is not Diabetes related but would just make the case for your pain being caused by a different, unconnected condition. It is worth remembering that we can have multiple conditions going on at the same time. My advice would be to see your GP with a view to getting this problem properly investigated. Good luck.
Thx. I am under the GP for this and they did a Doppler test to check the pulses in my feet.
I have good sensation in both feet and the test reveals ok blood flow.
I do agree with you though so I will keep pushing them
I have good sensation in both feet and the test reveals ok blood flow.
I do agree with you though so I will keep pushing them
Incyb
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- Type of diabetes
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If it is neuropathy (only a doctor can tell you) you might be interested to hear about Alphalipoic Acid (ALA). My sister and I both take it. I buy it on Amazon. It has helped both of us with numbness and burning in the feet and lower legs. Lots of research supports its efficacy. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/28541026/?i=3&from=alpha lipoic acid peripheral neuropathy
Incyb
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TheBigNewt
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- Insulin
Guzzler
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Remember that R-ALA is the one to look for. I don't think it can be prescribed by a doctor.
Have you got any idea why I have all these problems despite getting my sugar in check.
Also, any idea how I could eat half a trifle and no real change in blood levels.
Thx
Alison Campbell
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 1,443
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
Neuropathy is one of the complications that affects many people with prediabetes so you do not need prolonged extra high sugars to be affected.
Some people on the forum have suggested they have worse neuropathy like symptoms when the nerves are healing by bringing down higher sugar levels.
Half a Triffle (small pot, family size??) is often high fat so easier for the body to deal with than say honey cake where you might see a faster higher rise that does not come down in two hours. Saying that, a one off test with a home meter is not accurate enough to draw firm scientific conclusions. Meters are a tool that can guide us to make better food choices and pick up trends.
The main point is no one here can provide medical advice. We can only share our experiences and make suggestions for you to discuss with the medics.
Please push for further blood tests and also referral so a specialist can carry out further tests to find out what is wrong. Please keep us updated.
Some people on the forum have suggested they have worse neuropathy like symptoms when the nerves are healing by bringing down higher sugar levels.
Half a Triffle (small pot, family size??) is often high fat so easier for the body to deal with than say honey cake where you might see a faster higher rise that does not come down in two hours. Saying that, a one off test with a home meter is not accurate enough to draw firm scientific conclusions. Meters are a tool that can guide us to make better food choices and pick up trends.
The main point is no one here can provide medical advice. We can only share our experiences and make suggestions for you to discuss with the medics.
Please push for further blood tests and also referral so a specialist can carry out further tests to find out what is wrong. Please keep us updated.
Thanks again for all of the really useful help and guidance.
I did wonder myself if my pain could be worse whilst things are settling down / healing.
I’m going to ask work if I could be exempt from wearing steel toe cap shoes so I could wear something lighter and more comfy.
I’ll keep you all posted.
I did wonder myself if my pain could be worse whilst things are settling down / healing.
I’m going to ask work if I could be exempt from wearing steel toe cap shoes so I could wear something lighter and more comfy.
I’ll keep you all posted.
