Hi all, and firstly what a great forum, packed with a lot of answers and experience, I stumbled across the site last night and ended up reading well into the small hours, and a lot seems to click into place...

I was diagnosed type 2 Diabetic in December 08 following being rushed into hospital with chest pains, a cold sensation running up my legs and arms and generally feeling very ill, all of these symptoms appeared within the 14 days previous to being admitted, during which time I had started taking a course of Champix (Chantix in the USA and Canada) to stop smoking,I stopped the pills after admittance to hospital in case there was a connection.

During my week long stay in hospital ECG's were done and treadmill test along with plenty of blood tests, all of which came back normal, my HBA1C at that point was 8.0 so not that high, during my stay I got up and went to walk from my bed and literally walked like I was drunk, trying to focus my eyes and coordinate balance was very hard, this has continued since that date, along with other symptoms that have come and stayed, or come and gone since, among them lightheartedness, stomach bloating, constipation, diarrhea, grumbling stomach, short visual disturbance (sight loss for up to a minute a time), blurred vision, tightness and pain in the left side chest, radiating down the left arm into the fingers, shooting pains and strange sensations in both arms, numbness in throat, difficulty swallowing, alleged Raynaud's Syndrome, which only sends the base of 1 thumbnail grey, muscle cramps mainly in my calves and feet at night, and just lately waking several times a night with numbness and pins and needles in my hands, mainly my ring and little finger of my left hand, along with burning sensations/shooting pains and the feeling that somethings "on" my skin, mainly in my left side to name most of them...

Medication Wise I'm on 1g Metformin daily and 75mg Aspirin, I've tried stopping both for a month to See what happened and it was no different, last HBA1C was 5.8 and I tightly control my BG, the main problem and longest running is the lightheartedness, which has seen me lose my business (I was a small one man band company), it appears to be worsened when I eat, whilst my BG isn't affected, I've tried very small meals and that hasn't helped either.

The last week or 2 I've had the waking in the night with numb hands or pins and needles in them, and a dull ache in mainly my left arm, I've seen 6 different GP's in this time, 3 consultants and had a battery of blood tests done, all saying there's nothing wrong, except the one who suggested it was all in my head, I've also had nerve testing for carpal tunnel syndrome (tested neg), tests by ENT and the Endocrinologists, all negative so far and after 14 months I'm at a loss and heading for bankruptcy due to lack of working.

Sorry for the lengthy post but I'm trying to find if anyone has any ideas that I can try myself whilst I'm waiting for my next round of hospital visits to start, I'm trying to find out how a previously reasonably fit and healthy 37 year old can end up feeling so bad so quickly, in short just want my life back, thanks for reading, Andy

Well... I'd look at the metformin for now. It can reduce B12 levels in 40% of the people taking them. So get a test for this and if the numbers are below 400, you need to supplement ASAP.
(doctors may say a result below this is "normal" but it is NOT).

I'd also test your blood sugar when you are feeling the pins and needles and/or numbness. Low blood sugar may cause this.

Can you tell me what else you take? Many drugs have effects on other nutrients, and may deplete common things. Some blood pressure drugs do this, ACE inhibitors deplete zinc.

Diabetics lose magnesium thru the urine. It is part of the process.
When magnesium levels get low, there can be cardiac effects. There can be Raynaud's (cold hands/feet), etc. Diarrhea can come from metformin itself. Loose stools lead to low potassium and MAGNESIUM as well.

Here is my magnesium thread:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread1138.html
(do not use magnesium oxide for your supplement-- it is a laxative--and is not absorbed).

Get the B12 tested first off. And start a magnesium supplement (based on my link). Then see how you feel.
There are other things to do, that may/will help, but you should do these first to see how much of an effect they have.

Hi, thanks for the reply, I take Metformin 2 x 500mg daily, 1 x 75mg Aspirin and 1 x Propranolol 80mg daily, my BG levels have been fairly consistant and within my normal ranges throughout.

Following colour changes in my nail beds dependant on temperature my GP did say I had Raynaud's, but then another said I didn't and it was left at that.

The worst affects appear to be at night when I'm sleeping (waking with numb fingers etc), although this evening my arms feel like their burning and there have been plenty of shooting pains today...

Thanks for the advice and link to the magnesium thread, I'm off to have a look now,

Andy

Hi Andy,

When I was taking too much B-6 I had some of the same neuro symptoms you described. Also, I know you were tested for carpal tunnel but I wonder if there is a possibility of spinal stenosis. I had an MRI due to my hand/arm symptoms and found out I have cervical stenosis. It wasn't picked up on the NCV/EMG test. Nevertheless, my neuro doc said it didn't factor into my symptoms. I still wonder about that because there is compression of the cord and I still have some of the numbness you describe--the ring and little finger and a slight prickling sensation in my palms that sometimes wakes me up at night.

Jon

Hi, and thanks for the reply, I've had damage to my spine for several years (herniated L4-5 if I remember correctly), which saw me bed ridden a couple of times for up to 12 weeks at a time,but I haven't had any major problems with it lately but its something I'm going to bring up with my consulatant when I see him later this month.

I rang my GP's surgery this morning and asked for the results of my B12 test to be told it was normal, some further digging managed to get the count from him which was 312, so I'm guessing that its worth me trying a supplement and I'll get some today.

Regarding the magnesium, I read in the link provided (very informative thread by the way) that it may clash with Aspirin, would bathing in Epsom Salts be a good way of getting some Magnesium absorption through the skin rather than taking an oral supplement if this is the case, sorry for all the questions and thanks for your time, Andy

--given the rather acute onset of your symptoms, if there may be some spinal problem at some level.

The problem is that symptoms from spinal/nerve root compromise and those from more peripheral neuropathy (from diabetes or other causes) can often be exactly the same, which is why the testing process can be a long process of elimination.

Would they at least be open to giving you a brain/cervical spine MRI, to rule out nerve condition or central nervous system demyelinating diseases?

Beta blockers can cause those side effects of cold hands and feet.
This is a common side effect. Do you take the propranolol at night? Try taking it in the morning, and see if there is any difference.

Propranolol is listed in the reference I use called Drug Induced Nutrient Depletions.
The nutrient that was studied was CoQ-10. Since low levels of CoQ-10 impact the heart, I'd suggest you start a good supplement of this. (buy quality, and gel cap form, not dry powder capsules). You will need at least 200mg a day or more. Whatever you can afford, as it can be costly.

Here is a link with some information for you:
http://www.swedish.org/16749.cfm

I realize you need some beta blockade for your heart, but use of these drugs is problematic in diabetics.
It is a tight place to be...IMO.
Their biggest downside is that they mask symptoms of low blood sugar. While doctors are targeting high sugars, new research shows that LOWS are very damaging.

You can try this: soak your hands in epsom salts before going to bed each night. (at least 1/2 hr in lukewarm water) The magnesium will soak in and open the blood vessels and improve the circulation. (magnesium dilates blood vessels). This will help, but also point to magnesium oral as being your goal.

It is possible you may improve your heart functions with the CoQ-10 and magnesium and be able to get off the beta blocker in the future. This is a MAYBE... but a goal that will improve your daily life.

Cardiac arrhythmias respond to restoration of magnesium in some cases.