Warning signs of diabetic neuropathy in my feet?

[JenniferW]

I'm worrying and wondering if I have the first signs of diabetic neuropathy in my feet. My annual check-up with the diabetic nurse hasn't taken place this summer, and I'm now wondering whether I should be talking with my GP abut this.

I started to become suspicious about this more than 18 months ago, but the last annual foot test and private podiatrist tests since tell me my tests from them are fine. So this started to develop maybe as much as 2 years ago. I feel something like numbness, but I'd say it's like you might feel after a very hard day of walking - almost battered on the soles of your feet? This affects the soles of both feet, with more of it in the toes. Pretty constant feeling, at any time of day.

Advice and suggestions?

 

[Mr_Pot]

I'm worrying and wondering if I have the first signs of diabetic neuropathy in my feet. My annual check-up with the diabetic nurse hasn't taken place this summer, and I'm now wondering whether I should be talking with my GP abut this.

I started to become suspicious about this more than 18 months ago, but the last annual foot test and private podiatrist tests since tell me my tests from them are fine. So this started to develop maybe as much as 2 years ago. I feel something like numbness, but I'd say it's like you might feel after a very hard day of walking - almost battered on the soles of your feet? This affects the soles of both feet, with more of it in the toes. Pretty constant feeling, at any time of day.

Advice and suggestions?

I can't diagnose your problem and of course it could be lots of things but here is my experience to compare:
I didn't know it was a symptom at the time but before I was diagnosed with type 2 I had a sort of numbness in my right toes, it felt as though I had a piece of sellotape stuck to my foot and some slight tingling. On diagnosis, at a routine over sixties health check, my feet were checked and said to be ok. I adopted a low carb diet and my HbA1c was prediabetic after 3 months, the tingling however got worse (nerves starting to work?). It gradually improved and after about a year I had no tingling or numbness.

 

[Caprock94]

I can't diagnose your problem and of course it could be lots of things but here is my experience to compare:
I didn't know it was a symptom at the time but before I was diagnosed with type 2 I had a sort of numbness in my right toes, it felt as though I had a piece of sellotape stuck to my foot and some slight tingling. On diagnosis, at a routine over sixties health check, my feet were checked and said to be ok. I adopted a low carb diet and my HbA1c was prediabetic after 3 months, the tingling however got worse (nerves starting to work?). It gradually improved and after about a year I had no tingling or numbness.

Somewhat similar experience here, except at diagnosis I didn't notice any symptoms. I quickly lowered my A1C to prediabetic and then non diabetic levels. About 6 weeks in, I noticed a burning feeling in both feet. Got worse when walking a lot. Instead of numbness, it was like my feet were overly sensitive and felt everything. Over a year later, I still have some issues with it, but it has slowly gotten better. Hoping for more improvement.

 

[JenniferW]

Somewhat similar experience here, ... Over a year later, I still have some issues with it, but it has slowly gotten better. Hoping for more improvement.

Thanks for sharing the similar experience. The cancellation of my annual foot test this year (I assume because of the pandemic) has made me think I probably shouldn't let this just drift on without trying to sort out what's going on.

 

[Antechinus]

By the time you are diagnosed with PN its almost too late. There are many tests but the time taken to do them means that only a couple are ever used, and these are fairly blunt tests as they are really only looking for loss of protective sensation.

Generally early signs of neuropathy are strange and vague sensations eg bunched up sock under ball of feet, tingling, burning at nightt, feels like toes wrapped in something (can still feel but not quite right).

Some of these symptoms cross over with nutrient deficiencies so good idea to get blood test for these, mostly B &D. Also alcohol can cause them as well, no safe dose of alcohol so beware.
Don't wait for some one to tell you you have PN because it may be too late. If it feels odd then chances are it is.

 

[Annya]

I've got Neuropathy in my feet and legs. Mine came with surface ulcers in the nerve endings and I'm pretty sure you can imagine how painful that is. I now have a repeat prescription for Zomorph (Morphine) and Gabapentin. If you think something doesn't feel right, I beg of you get it checked out. I wouldn't wish this hell on anybody.

 

[andbrook]

you must get this checked

 

[type two paul]

I'm worrying and wondering if I have the first signs of diabetic neuropathy in my feet. My annual check-up with the diabetic nurse hasn't taken place this summer, and I'm now wondering whether I should be talking with my GP abut this.

I started to become suspicious about this more than 18 months ago, but the last annual foot test and private podiatrist tests since tell me my tests from them are fine. So this started to develop maybe as much as 2 years ago. I feel something like numbness, but I'd say it's like you might feel after a very hard day of walking - almost battered on the soles of your feet? This affects the soles of both feet, with more of it in the toes. Pretty constant feeling, at any time of day.

Advice and suggestions?

The effects are so varied with neuropathy. Numbness, over sensitivity, burning pain, sharp stabbing and cold feeling. I think when the nerves become damaged the signals to the brain are all over the place, a bit like phantom pain. It's worth nipping it in the bud now before they become more damaged. The tablets they dole out once you have it simply mask the pain.

 

[JenniferW]

I've just had my annual review with my diabetic nurse and the foot screening for our area has been completely cancelled this year! So much for maintaining the importance of this for diabetics? I see a podiatrist privately on a regular basis and will ask there for a check-up, but not everyone can do that!

 

[Daz007]

I get sharp stabbing pains in my feet occasionally, but I do fine on the foot tests. Obviously my ex wife must have made a voodoo doll of me, however Im sure that would cause pains in more sensitive areas . Hope all our foot checks get resumed soon.

 

[JenniferW]

Looking back at what I posted getting on for 5 years ago, I'm a bit horrified to realise that none of the doctors or nurses I see in NHS appointments show any interest in my ongoing foot problems!

The burning sensation on the bottom of my feet at night has only ever got worse and the most helpful suggestion was from the podiatrist I've seen privately for several years, who suggested I moisturise and massage my feet just before going to bed. I think it makes very little difference, but even a tiny bit less awful's making me try and stick with this. I'm also going to try massage with arnica, and also peppermint, suggestions I found somewhere online.

That podiatrist also told me about the various medications that are prescribed for this, but explained they're all going to come with possible side-effects. Whatever medication's prescribed (not just for T2) gives me so many negative side effects, I don't want to even think about this option.

 

[KennyA]

Looking back at what I posted getting on for 5 years ago, I'm a bit horrified to realise that none of the doctors or nurses I see in NHS appointments show any interest in my ongoing foot problems!

The burning sensation on the bottom of my feet at night has only ever got worse and the most helpful suggestion was from the podiatrist I've seen privately for several years, who suggested I moisturise and massage my feet just before going to bed. I think it makes very little difference, but even a tiny bit less awful's making me try and stick with this. I'm also going to try massage with arnica, and also peppermint, suggestions I found somewhere online.

That podiatrist also told me about the various medications that are prescribed for this, but explained they're all going to come with possible side-effects. Whatever medication's prescribed (not just for T2) gives me so many negative side effects, I don't want to even think about this option.

Hi - I had neuropathy for around six years. That included burning feet, particularly at night, stabbing "needle" pains, and pins and needles numbness. The pain could be quite bad and led to a lot of sleep deprivation. I found that nothing really helped - some things (such as walking, or a very hot bath) alleviated the pain a little but weren't compatible with sleeping or most activities.

It went fairly quickly after I got my BG back to normal. I still have some mild tingling, which is probably (five years on) permanent damage, but it's not pain. The Handbook of Diabetes (Bilous and Donnelly) has plenty of tips on how to recognise neuropathy but nothing to offer on effective pain relief or symptom control.

 

[Caprock94]

Looking back at what I posted getting on for 5 years ago, I'm a bit horrified to realise that none of the doctors or nurses I see in NHS appointments show any interest in my ongoing foot problems!

The burning sensation on the bottom of my feet at night has only ever got worse and the most helpful suggestion was from the podiatrist I've seen privately for several years, who suggested I moisturise and massage my feet just before going to bed. I think it makes very little difference, but even a tiny bit less awful's making me try and stick with this. I'm also going to try massage with arnica, and also peppermint, suggestions I found somewhere online.

That podiatrist also told me about the various medications that are prescribed for this, but explained they're all going to come with possible side-effects. Whatever medication's prescribed (not just for T2) gives me so many negative side effects, I don't want to even think about this option.

Sorry to hear you are still struggling with this. For me, it came on suddenly after lowering blood sugar quickly after diagnosis. Really bad burning early on. Slowly got better year after year. A couple of months ago, I would have told you I was about 80 percent back to normal and happy with the progress. For some reason, things got bad again around Christmas. A little better today, but still not awesome. No idea what caused. Blood sugar has been pretty good.

How has your control been over the years? Do you find the pain level varies day to day, depending on what you are doing?

 

[Rosie9876]

By the time you are diagnosed with PN its almost too late. There are many tests but the time taken to do them means that only a couple are ever used, and these are fairly blunt tests as they are really only looking for loss of protective sensation.

Generally early signs of neuropathy are strange and vague sensations eg bunched up sock under ball of feet, tingling, burning at nightt, feels like toes wrapped in something (can still feel but not quite right).

Some of these symptoms cross over with nutrient deficiencies so good idea to get blood test for these, mostly B &D. Also alcohol can cause them as well, no safe dose of alcohol so beware.
Don't wait for some one to tell you you have PN because it may be too late. If it feels odd then chances are it is.

For years, diabetic nurse just checked for sensation in my feet and dismissed my reports of tingling, also claw toes in one foot. I was refused referral to a podiatrist, even after I was turned away for a pedicure because they said my big toe was infected. Neither would my GP treat me for it. Sadly, NHS is letting us down. Penny wise and pound foolish, I think.

 

[JenniferW]

Sorry to hear you are still struggling with this. For me, it came on suddenly after lowering blood sugar quickly after diagnosis. Really bad burning early on. Slowly got better year after year. A couple of months ago, I would have told you I was about 80 percent back to normal and happy with the progress. For some reason, things got bad again around Christmas. A little better today, but still not awesome. No idea what caused. Blood sugar has been pretty good.

How has your control been over the years? Do you find the pain level varies day to day, depending on what you are doing?

I'm 77 and have had sleep problems years before this started, coming out of an obviously stressful period in my life around 35 years ago. I'd be wide away in the middle of the night and not able to get back to sleep for a couple of hours or more. That's persisted, and is made worse by the foot pain. I now have to get up and move around and focus on distracting myself mentally, and after maybe a couple of hours, it eases off (a bit). I'm not aware of changes from day to day. It's just slowly got worse over the years. I'm not on any T2 medication and go up a bit, down a bit, but have mostly managed to - just - stay under 48 mmol/mol HbA1c since I was diagnosed 10 years ago. It's got higher, though, since having Covid 2 years ago.

I'm encouraged by you having some improvement. It feels like a glimmer of hope at the end of a tunnel.

 

[JenniferW]

For years, diabetic nurse just checked for sensation in my feet and dismissed my reports of tingling, also claw toes in one foot. I was refused referral to a podiatrist, even after I was turned away for a pedicure because they said my big toe was infected. Neither would my GP treat me for it. Sadly, NHS is letting us down. Penny wise and pound foolish, I think.

I've had that same sort of lack of interest from NHS diabetes review nurses and GPs! It's depressing, isn't it? Our local diabetes annual foot check-ups seem to have just disappeared and I've settled into private podiatrist appointments. They not only do the annual tests but talk me through the results - how it compares to previous years, etc. And he's always encouraging about foot care (I've had other foot dermatology problems in the past). It's what's made me really pay attention now to the burning / pain, instead of trying to ignore it (which is impossible!).

 

[JenniferW]

Somewhat similar experience here, except at diagnosis I didn't notice any symptoms. I quickly lowered my A1C to prediabetic and then non diabetic levels. About 6 weeks in, I noticed a burning feeling in both feet. Got worse when walking a lot. Instead of numbness, it was like my feet were overly sensitive and felt everything. Over a year later, I still have some issues with it, but it has slowly gotten better. Hoping for more improvement.

Interesting! My initial problems 6 years ago were when out on a walk wearing the same shoes as normal and it felt as if I was walking barefoot on pebbles! The opposite of numbness! I've now got patches of deadness though I still pass the foot check tests, plus the burning. Thank you for responding. This is helping, finding I'm not going crazy over nothing.

 

[Caprock94]

I'm 77 and have had sleep problems years before this started, coming out of an obviously stressful period in my life around 35 years ago. I'd be wide away in the middle of the night and not able to get back to sleep for a couple of hours or more. That's persisted, and is made worse by the foot pain. I now have to get up and move around and focus on distracting myself mentally, and after maybe a couple of hours, it eases off (a bit). I'm not aware of changes from day to day. It's just slowly got worse over the years. I'm not on any T2 medication and go up a bit, down a bit, but have mostly managed to - just - stay under 48 mmol/mol HbA1c since I was diagnosed 10 years ago. It's got higher, though, since having Covid 2 years ago.

I'm encouraged by you having some improvement. It feels like a glimmer of hope at the end of a tunnel.

Oh wow, I am sorry to hear you are having to deal with this. I am hoping for the best for you. I wish I had some more helpful advice. Did you say whether you ever gave pain meds a chance?

 

[JenniferW]

Oh wow, I am sorry to hear you are having to deal with this. I am hoping for the best for you. I wish I had some more helpful advice. Did you say whether you ever gave pain meds a chance?

I've never taken pain meds for this and reading up on it recently noticed they weren't recommended because they don't work for this type of pain.

 

[jjraak]

I'm currently on duloxatine (psychiatrist prescribed) but it's helping my nerve pain in leg.

Checking up on it and it's a prescribed medication for neuropathy.

I also had need of a similar drug when in hospital and the morphine etc for the pain in leg & hand worked well but never touched the pain from my broken shoulder.

Amitriptyline sorted that right out.

Not sure what you might have read but other meds are more suited to nerve pain than I realised .

Best of luck finding something that offers you some respite .