Physical Effects as a Prediabetic

[Mat Bonner]

Hi,
I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic about a year ago. I changed my diet and ended up outside of the prediabetic range. However, I fell off the wagon and began consuming carbs again. I now get a slight tingling sensation and numbness in my toes and stabbing pains in my joints in my fingers. I find the whole diabetes thing very depressing and am really struggling with my mental health as food was always a comfort to me. I now feel I might have neuropathy? What should O do?

 

[JoKalsbeek]

I think the first port of call should be your GP for extensive bloodwork. A HbA1c to see where your blood sugars are at, but also a check on vitamins (b6, b12, d, etc) thyroidfunction and whatnot. Your symptoms could be anything, and some things are more easily solved than others, but first you have to know what's going on. You know you've fallen off the wagon, so odds are that's the main problem, but better safe than sorry. Get a once-over and go from there. And maybe look for low carb foods that can bring comfort as well? Extra dark chocolate, nice cheeses, pork scratchings, salmon...? If it's considered somewhat decadent, it might scratch the emotional itch?

Good luck!
Jo

 

[Mat Bonner]

I think the first port of call should be your GP for extensive bloodwork. A HbA1c to see where your blood sugars are at, but also a check on vitamins (b6, b12, d, etc) thyroidfunction and whatnot. Your symptoms could be anything, and some things are more easily solved than others, but first you have to know what's going on. You know you've fallen off the wagon, so odds are that's the main problem, but better safe than sorry. Get a once-over and go from there. And maybe look for low carb foods that can bring comfort as well? Extra dark chocolate, nice cheeses, pork scratchings, salmon...? If it's considered somewhat decadent, it might scratch the emotional itch?

Good luck!
Jo

Thank you for taking the time to reply and the advice you have provided. I have contacted my GP today and they will arrange for me to have a blood test. I've also asked for a referral to see a neurologist, but the GP is asking if I want this to be a private referral. I don't quite understand that. Does it mean they won't make a referral unless it's private?

 

[KennyA]

Thank you for taking the time to reply and the advice you have provided. I have contacted my GP today and they will arrange for me to have a blood test. I've also asked for a referral to see a neurologist, but the GP is asking if I want this to be a private referral. I don't quite understand that. Does it mean they won't make a referral unless it's private?

I think that's what you're being asked, but not for the reason you've given. The GP won't refer unless she thinks there's a clinical reason to do so. If there is, she must refer on.

I suspect the "private referral" point is them asking if you're using an insurance or mutual aid society. All (I think) of these - the route most private referrals come through - will not process your application to allow you to see a clinical specialist directly without your GP being involved. This is intended to ensure that the clinical specialist has your full relevant history when you're seen. It saves time and should prevent errors.

The thing about damage from high blood sugar levels - just about everything could or might be something else, so it's worth having it checked. In some ways, if it is BG related, that would probably be simpler: my experience was that reducing BG levels immediately reduced the symptoms.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

Thank you for taking the time to reply and the advice you have provided. I have contacted my GP today and they will arrange for me to have a blood test. I've also asked for a referral to see a neurologist, but the GP is asking if I want this to be a private referral. I don't quite understand that. Does it mean they won't make a referral unless it's private?

@KennyA answered better than I could, because your system and terminology's a bit different from the Dutch one, where I'm at. Maybe wait for the blood test results: If those show prolonged high blood sugars, the GP'd have reason to refer you, with extra information at the ready for the specialist to work from.

Excellent work getting right on top of this though... I hope something'll crop up that's easily solved! Fingers crossed for you.
Jo