Have you experienced neuropathy?

@sportfan365 Hello sportfan365, thank you for starting this discussion. I believe numbness in hand and feet is a not too uncommon occurence in diabetes. Let me tag some members so that they can share their experience with you.

Hello members, I hope you don't mind me tagging you! Have any of you experienced neuropathy, or that wet sock feeling sportfan365 describes? How do you deal with it? Have you been treated for it? Do you have any advice?

@frspicer‍ @ILOVEMYDAD‍ @mable36752‍ @Marciem‍ @katiedid123‍ @Mrsjean59‍ @Stinaa90‍ @td5915‍ @monaleesa‍ @margevoll‍ @Mtillis‍ @Joyeharper‍ @suki146‍ @Smcandrew‍ @Christen‍ @Allmykids6‍ @Leopard44‍ @Thereasa5‍ 

Take care,

Courtney

When I get it in my feet, I get up and walk. For me, neuropathy is seldom and unpredictable. I have no idea what triggers it. It isn't painful; it is an annoying sensation.

@sportfan365 I have neuropathy, diagnosed last year. I have pins and needles, loss of sensation, and pain. It sounds silly using pain and loss of sensation in the same sentence but that's the only way to describe it. It's going up my legs now. My feet are always absolutely freezing now. The pain is constant and almost never goes away. Try and talk to your doctor about your symptoms, hope you get some relief.

I first started having symptoms of neuropathy at around age 36. I was overweight for me, around 236. I started an exercise / running program and thought, “eh, this wet sock feeling is just due to the running.” I went several years running marathons and other distance races and always thought “it’s just the running.” Then, after my wife had our 3rd child, I decided it was time to hang up my running shoes and be a more available dad. After sitting in a chair all day doing psychotherapy for 17 years, I went from 182lbs to 312. My neuropathy went from the wet sock feeling to, what I call my “basement gremlin” feeling.

Yes, you heard me right. Little gremlins live in my basement and stick their little spears through the floorboards into my feet and lower legs at indiscriminate times, most days, all day long. More regularly,  these lower level demons strike matches and hold them to my feet and create the proverbial “hot foot” feeling as, I am quite sure, they giggle a hellish laugh. 

All along, I described these symptoms to my doctors who looked at me with puzzled looks and nodded somewhat attentively as they stared into computer screens to ensure they were billing correctly (yes, my Tongue is in my cheek).  I had to research and tell my doctor what I was experiencing before he diagnosed peripheral neuropathy. However, this was never connected to the idea that I was diabetic. I even had low T and one of the possible etiologies is diabetes. But I always said to myself, “well I don’t have diabetes, so....”

Truth was I was probably prediabetic for years and didn’t know it. In 2015, I was finally diagnosed prediabetic. Unfortunately, I decided not to heed the warnings. Maybe I could blame my hectic 60+ hour work weeks, or my consistent depressed mood, or an assortment of other factors. Nonetheless, I myself can only be responsible moving forward. Time to take care of me first.

I used to have 1 doctor. Now I have a PCP, an Endocrinologist, a podiatrist, a weight management doctor, a diabetes educator, a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a trove of nurses, medical assistants, and front office personnel helping (to upsell/bill as many services as possible). 

So, my advice to others is, as soon as the basement gremlins start their evil doings, tell your doctor you want to get your a1c checked and start monitoring this closely.  This is my disease. Through genetics, habit or environment, doesn’t matter. It’s my issue. I can only be responsible for my care.

I’m off for a walk. Do you have difficulty walking these days? I feel like I am walking in mud with jello for feet! Of course, the plantar fasciitis doesn’t help. 

@jeffcrvn Wow thank you for sharing your story. I've also had this for about two years now. The little gremlins with spears totally describes it! Thank god they caught it before it got worse! 

Chemo caused my neuropathy, which is moderate to severe. It’s caused me to not be able to return to the job I was on leave from during my cancer treatments. Blessedly, I was approved for SS Disability while I was going through chemo, so once the Covid outbreak is over, I’ll be looking for desk work instead of my usual factory work.

Yes i have experienced it ib my feet but it is rare...When i get it it is quite painful

i get intense pain or itching in my feet at times-when my bs is high. Exercise, ice and an arthritis gel like icy hot helps-but cutting carbs really helps.

@sportfan365 I started lose feeling in my right food probably about a year ago. I was going through a bad period and kind of let myself go and gained a lot of weight, and of course that kind of pushed my diabetes over the edge. I gave myself a big ole kick in the pants and started trying to eat better and started exercising again and that has helped quite a bit. I have joint issues also because of my weight and on bad days I try to soak in a warm bath and it helps with the pain.

hi, nice to meet you, it might be neuropathy , sometimes it comes with the diabetes, but visit the doctors just to be sure :)