Foot pain bad despite sugar level reduction
 

Hi,
I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes on 11-4-09. Prior to the diagnosis, my feet tingled a bit at times. I thought it was just from being overweight. I even saw a podiatrist in July to have the nails on both big toes removed as they were damaged due to a fall I had in 2003 and grew in deformed. Took at bit longer for them to heal than expected. I asked about the tingly feeling I have, mainly at night and especially if I put my feet up and when I go to bed. The podiatrist told me it's normal for the feet to swell and even feel a bit tingly at night, so I didn't worry because I thought for sure he would tell me if he thought I had neuropathy.

Well, now that I'm on meds, losing weight, and exercising every day (since Nov 1), my feel feel more tingly and sometimes numb! I don't understand why this would be getting worse instead of better. Also, the tingles are not always the same - sometimes one foot, sometimes the other, sometimes both. Sometimes it's on the sole of my foot only; other times my toes are numb and very sensitive on the top. Sometimes the little toe on my right foot is very painful to the point of barely being able to feel it, but some days it's totally ok. Seems like if I eat carbs or anything sugary, my feet flare up, but even if I don't the pain is still there sometimes, just not as intense.

I haven't been diagnosed officially with neuropathy, but I seriously suspect it. I see an endocrinologist the end of this week, and I think he'll tell me about it, but it seems strange to me that it's getting worse after treatment instead of better. Is this typical? Am I expecting too much too fast? Is nueropathy reversable?

Welcome to NeuroTalk eapat318! :Wave-Hello:

I'm sorry about the NP pain you're having. There are many here with that same problem so maybe you'll get some ideas on how to cope with it.

I can relate to the bad foods making symptoms worse. I have MS and if I eat too much of the wrong foods, my symptoms get worse right away.

:) Thanks, Wiz! You're my first reply. It's great to have a place to come where others understand what you're going through!

Well, there are many things that happen when you lose weight.

The process, of eating less food, sometimes means less potassium and magnesium consumed.

Also, some people believe that toxins are stored in fat, and when you lose weight they are released. I believe that mercury has been shown to do this.

I would also examine your exercise routine and the shoes you wear. Even tying them too tightly over your instep, can cause nerves to react.
This link shows how to tie shoes for better comfort:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...ghlight=instep

If your toe box is too small, it will also compress nerves. Getting one size wider will help the toes quite a bit!

There is a condition called slimmer's paralysis...where if low fat food is used to lose alot of weight, then nerves can be damaged.
So make sure you consume Omega-3s to keep your nerve sheaths from being damaged. This is a rather dramatic thing and shows up more during fast large losses.

Hi, once I got my sugars down, lost weight etc, I experienced increased or flaring of symptoms, at first it is just about impossible to tell the differance between worserning of sypmtoms and nerve regeneration, with my case it took many months for me to realize the nerve were trying to regenerate, as the flaring eventually comes less severe and less often.
I had the same as far as tingling goes, one foot would carry on, sometimes the both of them would carry on at the same time.

Supplements that are known to help diabetic neuropathis pain is R lipioc acid &
GLA [(gamma-linolenic acid ] 480 mg daily, just be carefull with the R liopic as it can lower blood sugars.
If you are taking Metformin for your diabetes then it would be a good idea to supplement with B12 [ methylcobalamin] at 1 -5 mg daily, as metformin depletes b12 levels which is critical for nerve health.

Diabetic neuropathy is fully reversable, but please keep in mind this a very slow process, took me a total of 5 years to rid of it fully.

good luck
Brian :)

Thanks Brian - that seems like a reasonable explanation. I sure hope it is regeneration!

I haven't heard of the supplements you mention, but will ask the endocrinologist when I see him for the first time on Friday. I am taking Metformin (among other things) and I do take a B-complex every day. After taking no medications of any kind on a regular basis until now, it feels like I have a meds buffet each day. But they sure have made a difference!

It is so good to hear that neuropathy is reversable. So many things make it and amputation sound inevitable no matter what you do.

Thanks so much for taking the time to put my fears at ease!

The newest studies show that 40% of people taking metformin can become B12 deficient.

Hi
*edit*

Your endo probably hasn't heard of those supplements somebody here recommended. Don't be surprised. But that doesn't mean you couldn't try them