Sugar and blood glucose
Outside the diabetes community the issue of diabetic neuropathy is one that seems to not be given the awareness it needs. It is potentially one of the most serious complications of diabetes.
It is vital that diabetics deal with diabetic neuropathy. According to the US governments ‘The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases’ (NIDDK) diabetic neuropathy is responsible for 86,000 lower limb amputations each year.
We have looked at Neuropathic pain more generally in a previous blog which you can check out here https://patienttalk.org/?p=281. In this blog we are going to look more closely at diabetic neuropathy which affects people with both Type One Diabetes and Type Two Diabetes.
As the name suggests diabetic neuropathy is associated with diabetes. Because it affects the nerves symptoms may appear in any part of the body. Simply put diabetic neuropathy is a family of nerve disorders cause by diabetes. They sign and symptoms can include:-
• Erectile dysfunction in men
• Loss of bladder control
• Burning pain in the limbs
• Pins and needles
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Speech impediments
• Muscle contractions.
How is diabetic neuropathy treated?
Well firstly prevention is always better than a cure. So diabetics are recommended to keep their blood glucose levels as normal as possible. This helps to prevent nerve damage.
But if treatments are needed you can expect to meet some of the following:-
• Pain medications such as anti-depressants and analgesics
• Tens machines and other physical therapy
• Foot care is most important because they are of course part of the body’s extremities. Foot care and ulcer treatment information can be found here http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/complications_feet/index.aspx.
One of the aims of this diabetes blog is to give our readers the opportunity to share your experiences of diabetic neuropathy with others. Please share anything you think may be of interest in the comments boxes below. This might include any links you think will be having value. That being said you may want to focus on the following question?
1. How long have you been a diabetic and what sort of diabetes do you have?
2. Do you suffer from diabetic neuropathy? What were you symptoms?
3. What impact did it have on your lifestyle?
4. What treatments did you receive for diabetic neuropathy and how successful were those treatments?
Many thanks in advance for your help.
I Started out with lyrica about 8 years ago, it didn’t do much. After 2 years started with Gabapentine, took the max dose. Then in 2008 I had my second Keto acidotic coma and the neuropathy spread to all my organs. Gabapentin wasn’t enough any more and after trying everything (Tens, anti depressants) the doctor started me on a small dose of Methadon, still works for me now and have no problem with increased needs or anything. Been on the same dose ever since. I highly reccomend it!
I’ve been type 2 Diabetic for about 12 years I think. I have had Neuropathy for probably 6-8 years now. The treatment I used was Gabapentin. This worked well for me. I was at the max I could go on for it about 4 years ago. My doctor said I would have to go on something else once that dosage stopped working. Due to my health going real bad that year, we quit our jobs and moved south. Living in Ohio I kept getting sicker each year, and for longer periods. When we quit our jobs, we also lost our insurance. My medicines would have ran about $1500.00 per month. I bought them for 1 month, then went off all medicines (I was on 2 different kinds of Insulin, 2 different Diabetes pills, High Cholesterol meds, High blood pressure meds, depression meds and the Gabapentin). I have been in constant pain since then. One thing that has seemed to help (I do not know if any studies have been done on this) is Eucalyptus oil? Sea Breeze rubbed on my feet and legs cools the burning and pain (along with massage)…I also tried a spray I bought from a man called “George’s Rapid Relief” that had the oil in it also. This spray enabled me to move my toes, which I had not been able to do for years (then i ran out of money and the spray). I was just wondering if you know of any studies with Eucalyptus Oil? I have the nerve damage in all my extremities now, and it is giving me spasms in my abdomen..and just about everywhere. I can’t walk far, fall over my own feet and steps take me forever. I have lost about 150 pounds since going off the medicines, even though I know I probably need the medicines, I can’t afford them as I can no longer work. I do not have a doctor at this time and haven’t been to one in the 4 years.
kkimmy37 Wow, I’m so sorry that you’re having such a difficult time!! That must be so scary to be so ill and without your medications! Have you checked to see if there are social services in your area that could help you get your insulin?? I’m amazed you’re still alive! This is so, so dangerous. I’m sure you know that, though. I don’t want to lecture, I’m just worried about you, even though I don’t know you. I know that there are certain essential oils that are good for certain things, but I know very little about alternative medicine, having been a ‘Western Medicine’ fan all of my life with only a some chiropractic and acupuncture thrown in for good measure. If Eucalyptus Oil seemed to help, then there’s likely something in it that helps those types of conditions. But please check with the county or state to see what kind of medical care you can get so you can get insulin asap.That’s what you really need and there has to be something available for you!! My brother got hooked up with county health services here in California and finally got treatment for his diabetes and other serious health issues. He’d probably be dead without their help. Good luck and please be careful walking, check your feet for sores every day and treat the sores if you see them so that you don’t get gangrene and lose your toes or feet! Take care, kkimmy37!
I’ve been a Type II diabetic for about 10 yrs. My neuropathy started when I was ‘pre-diabetic’ (maybe 12 yrs ago?) and has worsened, despite my A1c never going over 7.1. My A1c has been at 5.9 to 6.0 for over a year now and there has been no reduction in my symptoms. I have tingling, burning and numbness in both feet, up into my ankles and, on bad days, into my calves. The intensity of the symptoms vary – some days worse than others and I haven’t been able to determine what, if anything, make it change. So I take it one day at a time.
I’ve taken Gabapentin for many years, which helps. I didn’t think it helped, so I went off of it. I found out quite quickly what a good job it was doing for me and went right back on it! I’ve tried an assortment of OTC creams, lotions and herbal remedies that are supposed to help relieve the tingling and burning, but nothing really helps that I’ve found. I’ve tried massage (which sometimes is just too uncomfortable), and chiropractic treatment. I’ve done foot, ankle, and calf exercises while I am sitting to keep my circulation going, hoping that would help. Nope. Frustrating.
I have a couple of disabilities that affect my ability to move and my energy level. I can’t go for walks regularly, and when I can, I can’t walk far. A trip to the grocery store can leave me bedridden for days, despite the use of a one of their shopping scooters. My balance is poor, I trip over things. At my neuropathy’s worst, I walk like Frankenstein (luckily that hasn’t happened for awhile). It sucks.
I blame myself for letting my weight get out of control, which led to the diabetes in the first place. Lots of guilt going on here. To make myself feel better, I take good care of my feet. I check for injuries or sores daily, I get a pedicure (with polish!) once a month and let the experts cut my toe nails, and my doctor said of all his diabetic patients, my feet look the best! That makes me feel a little better about the damage I’ve done. 🙂
Burning under heels,worse on my left heel. Feels like someone is sticking a hot knife into my heel.
Pain does not go away with antii- inflamatories or strong pain killers even tramadol.
I am having xrsy tomorrow but do not expect it to show much as I think it is nerve damage which I think will not show up on an xray.
I have had difficulty walking especially the left heel, have had this about 14 weeks.
I am limping which does not help an existing back injury.
Can any one advise me please
Jenny Morris Are you sure you don’t have heel spurs and not neuropathy? Do your heels hurt worse when you first get out of bed or when you’ve been off your feet for awhile? I had heel spurs before – it was horrible pain, right in the center of my heels. It hurt really, really bad to walk and nothing came close to helping with the pain. And you’re right, that limp will only make your back worse!
Neuropathy would normally cause some tingling (pins and needles, like your foot is asleep), burning, sometimes some shooting type pains – mine sometimes feel like it’s shooting out of the ends of my toes.
It’s a good thing you’re having it checked out. How long have you been diabetic? Are you Type I or II? How did your xray turn out?
Hope they found out what it is so they can get treatment started for you!
Mary