Herb:

It has been mentioned (by several experts on this forum), that when one has diabetes or pre-diabetes and most certainly neuropathy, that one should be taking maximum doses of Methyl B-12. Is this the kind you are taking?

I am mentioning this because when I was first diagnosed with Diabetic Neuropathy, last year, I immediately went on the 3000 each morning and after one week I knew I needed to be taking one 5000 pill sub lingually instead of the 3000. We need to see how much we store of the B-12.

So when I took my last blood test to see my B-12 levels, I stopped taking any B-12 for 5 days before my blood test.

My latest B-12 leve was 2000.

It needs to be in the 4 digit range to know that our bodies are absorbing it. Even then, there is actually no guarantee.

I happen to know that it works in MY CASE, because I noticed a decrease BIG TIME in my neuropathy symptoms within one week of taking the Methyl B-12.

I take it almost every morning now.

It has made such a dramatic difference in the burning in my feet, well I can't begin to tell you.

Don't expect any doctor to tell you that B-12 will make ANY difference in YOUR neuropathy. They will say "oh, you are keeping your sugar under control, THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE NO BURNING".

Oh really?? Then explain why, when I had the first symptoms of Neuropathy, my sugar was ALREADY UNDER CONTROL.

They can't. But they DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT B-12.

Doesn't work for EVERYONE.

It was DRAMATIC for me.

Do a search on B-12 levels on these forums.

You will get all the info you need on the subject.

Take care,

Melody

In the sense that at least for Type II diabetes, the process is gradual, and the common Western diet, coupled with the insulin resistance of age, and the still present adaptations we made evolutionarily to exist in a feast or famine state (which means most of us are programmed to store fat easily)--maybe.

Exceptions might be people of certain genetic profiles or heavy exercisers. Certainly, the idea that heavy physical work, less available food, and especially, a shortened lifespan kept many people from developing noticeable insulin resistance--the precursor to type II--in bygone eras has been advanced before.

The more interesting question may be: are all/most people with idiopathic neuropathy likely to be pre-diabetic, at least? That theory has also been promulgated, and there's been some sharp debate. Certainly, a greater number of people with neuropathy than without it have been surveyed to have some sort of glucose/insulin dysfunction. But there are also many "idiopathics" without direct evidence of it.

I personally suspect that glucose dysregulation is one of three major conditions that are suspect in "idiopathic neuropathy"--the other two are as yet undescribed autoimmune mechanisms, and, as the human genome unravelling seems to be showing, dysfunctional genetic mutation.

And what worries me when there is a even some suspicion of insulin resistance there is still some docs that rely on fasting glucose test & or Ac1 levels and prediabetes is missed completely.

Melody, I am taking Methy Cobalamin. A year ago my B12 was above 1000, The lab cannot discriminate readings over 1000 so they just say "over 1000. The B12 reading a month later was 855.

I read Lhe latov book and it seems I have some of the symptoms of Motor, Sensory and autonomoc periphery.

I am eating very close to a diebetic diet and right now, I am not worrying what thype of PN I have or the cause of it.

Herb:

I wonder why your lab cannot give you an exact reading of what your Methyl B-12 is.

Interestingly, my husband's neurologist studied under Dr. Latov. Thankfully my husband is on IVIG and as of last week's visit to his neuro, she said 'your neuropathy has stabilized"

See, we both have neuropathy, mine is from diabetes, his is, well, he has been diagnosed with CIDP. He definitely has lots of auto-immune stuff going on.

But she said "I definitely think there was an "insult", to your nerves that that is why you have it between the toes.

We are not too sure what this means. But she did say she thinks there is more than one thing going on with my husband.

But his balance is much better, and if he stretches his glutes in the morning, his PN between his toes is much better.

We learn something about PN every single time we go to the Neuro!!!

Take care