Tingling Feet

[jonnyni]

Hi Everyone,

I'm not diabetic, but of late I've been experiencing tingling feet, tired legs and sometimes mild tingling in the fingertips, tiredness. This is fairly new, though i have been off colour for no identifiable reason for a while now.

I've had a fasting blood test with the doctors at the tail end of last year, which was fine. I know I should probably make another appointment, but our surgery is in crisis and I feel like such a pain. My um is T2, so i borrowed her monitor to do a test which was 7.2mmol, about an hour after food. Seems nothing out of the ordinary, I will try a fasting one and see how that goes.

Just wondering if anyone has had a similar experience and what my next step is, though i know this is likely speak to my GP, i suppose I just want reassurance I'm not wasting their time, if that makes sense!

Thanks for any responses

 

[KennyA]

Hi and welcome. As you probably know, nobody here can or will diagnose anything - we simply can't and it could be possibly dangerous to try.

That said, here's my experience: I developed tingling/stabbing pains/burning feet round about 2014. This was painful and stopped me sleeping. At the time my HbA1c would have been around 43 or 44. Although google suggested it was neuropathy, a diabetic symptom, I was firmly told by my doctor that I wasn't diabetic as my blood sugar wasn't high enough. I also had a number of other "diabetic symptoms" that were dismissed on the same basis. Fast forward a few years, and I was eventually diagnosed (as my BG was now high enough). I went low carb, and the symptoms went within 4-6 months. I have a little bit of permanent damage, and about six years of pain that could have been avoided.

However, not everything is diabetes-related and I'd strongly suggest you get yourself checked by a professional.

 

[jonnyni]

Thanks for your response Kenny, and i fully agree with your comments relating to a diagnosis. Experience of others, such as you have helpfully provided, is what I'm after. My tingling doesn't stop me from sleeping, its just like pins and needles at the moment, though i notice it more at night. Do you mind me asking about other symptoms? The last time i spoke with my doctor they sent me for investigations for dysphagia, all of which came back clear. Google has now mentioned that it might also be a diabetic symptom.

I will speak to my doctor as soon as i am able to arrange an appointment.

 

[KennyA]

Thanks for your response Kenny, and i fully agree with your comments relating to a diagnosis. Experience of others, such as you have helpfully provided, is what I'm after. My tingling doesn't stop me from sleeping, its just like pins and needles at the moment, though i notice it more at night. Do you mind me asking about other symptoms? The last time i spoke with my doctor they sent me for investigations for dysphagia, all of which came back clear. Google has now mentioned that it might also be a diabetic symptom.

I will speak to my doctor as soon as i am able to arrange an appointment.

No problem. I never had dysphagia, btw. The first symptom noted (around 2010) was oedema, feet particularly, followed by rapid weight gain. My kidneys started to malfunction, I stopped peeing. There was also red legs, blistering, fluid leaking through skin, bruising/cuts not healing, apnoea, tiredness/sleepiness, balanitis, xerostomia (sticky mouth), constipation, night sweats....all pre-diagnosis and while I was officially at "non-diabetic" BG levels. Of these the only thing that's persisted since my BG reduced has been night sweats.

The problem is partly that since 48mmol/l was set as the automatic diagnostic level (around 2008) it's become the only thing that matters. It's supposed to be a fall-back - ie if not previously diagnosed, you will be if your BG hits 48. Fair enough - but the NHS now won't diagnose people unless and until BG reaches 48.

 

[jonnyni]

Thanks Kenny. A few of those symptoms are familiar, though most of them I've never mentioned to the doc, and milder in comparison. I feel I may be where you were at the start. But I'll have a chat to the doc and see where we end up.

 

[MrsA2]

Thanks for your response Kenny, and i fully agree with your comments relating to a diagnosis. Experience of others, such as you have helpfully provided, is what I'm after. My tingling doesn't stop me from sleeping, its just like pins and needles at the moment, though i notice it more at night. Do you mind me asking about other symptoms? The last time i spoke with my doctor they sent me for investigations for dysphagia, all of which came back clear. Google has now mentioned that it might also be a diabetic symptom.

I will speak to my doctor as soon as i am able to arrange an appointment.

You might want to see if there is sufficent magnesium and/or potassium and/or salt in your diet. I find magnesium citrate (there are other variants as well) helps my tingly legs.
All 3 are often supplements taken by people on keto or low carb diets. Look up electrolytes

 

[Art Of Flowers]

Vitamin B12 is good for neuropathy. I get B12 in the Berocca multi-vitamin I take daily.
I am currently using a BetterYou Magnesium Chloride spray for cramp my legs. It absorbs through the skin.