Been posting on here and not introduced myself!

Hi, my name is Lizanne and I am 55 years old. I live in the UK in a town called Shrewsbury, one of those beautiful old towns with lots of history dating back to before the Romans.

I have been an Insulin Dependant Diabetic for 46 years and have lived through so many dietary, exercise and insulin changes introduced by the medical profession that it makes my head spin sometimes. When I was first diagnosed you had to weigh everything including meat and veg. The only thing you were allowed as much as you like was fats such as cheese, fat on meat, butter etc. Now the diet is much easier I think, but only because I have been dealing with it so long probably. Oh and I have been admitted to hospital twice with my diabetes since being diagnosed.

I am one of these people that if someone says you can't do that because you are a diabetic I will do my best to prove them wrong. When I was first diagnosed as a diabetic strenuous exercise was forbidden, so I trained as a swimmer! Represented my county, same as a state in the US but undoubtedly smaller in size. In the late 60's when I wanted to train as a nurse I had to try 10 hospitals before someone would accept me. Got accepted but had to work as a nurses aid for a year on days and nights to prove I wouldn't go hypo. Anyway I trained and specialised first in inflammatory bowel disease and then in endocrine disorders. Eventually became a Senior Lecturer in Nursing where I ran courses in all sorts of subjects but my specialisms were 1.altered physiology and 2. diabetes.

Due to developing multiple endocrine disorders I had to give up work, luckily I had worked long enough for a full pension so I now socialise with my family and increase my education by studying at my local college, oh and I have 2 cats called Suki and Mogwi. I have had to give up disco but my grey hair began to make me a bit conspicuous anyway.

If you want to ask any more please feel free to ask and I will answer the best I can.

IDD / Thyroid disease / Addisons disease / High BP ( now under control) / retinopathy /  neuropathy / bilateral frozen shoulder / thoracic radiculopathy / sciatica.  

Hi April, nice to hear from you.
First things first - a numb spot on 1 toe does not necessarily mean neuropathy, numb spots occur in people due to knocks, shoes pinching, even a bad back etc etc. I am not belittling your worries but as diabetics we are sometimes too quick to jump to the conclusion that everything that happens to us is due to a complication of diabetes. Have you done any reading into neuropathy. In my experience of having neuropathy and working with diabetics who have it, a numb spot is not usually the first symptom.

How long have you been diagnosed with Grave's Disease? Unstable thyroid disorders can also lead to some funny sensations in fingers and toes

As to my having children, unfortunately I lost 2 children before they were born. When I was in my child-bearing years so little was known about pregnancy and diabetes that bringing a child to full term was often not possible. This was due to the impure insulins, no blood sugar machines - only urine testing, lack of knowledge re diet etc etc etc.

Hello April, my name is Robyn. I'm 25 and have been type one for 24 years. I just wanted to let you know that 15 months ago I gave birth to my first very healthy baby (and she was only 8lbs 3 oz) and am now pregnant with a second. Just so long as you check your sugars, take your insulin and eat properly you'll have no problems having kids. As for your tingling toe, i used to get some tingling or numbness in my feet after working. My doctor told me to buy better shoes and believe it or not i haven't had a problem since! Hope this helps. Robyn

Thank you, Lizanne, for your information.  My doctor said the same thing really that you did about neuropathy.  She said I was probably worrying about nothing really.  It is just good to hear is from someone else with diabetes and neuropathy rather than the doctor, I guess.  Even though the doctor is supposed to be the expert, like you said, it is not textbook.  I went to my first local support group meeting last night and then came home and found this forum and I have really enjoyed reading the posts.  I have never wanted to be a part of a support group or get newsletters or anything having to do with diabetes because I have really been angry about having it.  I am more accepting of it now because of this numb spot on my toe and I realized that diabetes can have real complications.  I do have good control and that is the part that is so frustrating.  I have taken good care of myself and I may still have complications one day.  Anyway - I am glad to have found this site.  I did have a healthy baby girl 22 months ago.  She was perfect and healthy and I am so thankful for her.  My pregnancy went along just fine.  They do know so much and can do so much now and that is very encouraging.  Oh - I have had Grave's for just a year now and I honestly don't even know much about it besides the basics.  I really do need to educate myself on it, though.  Thank you!

http://www.diabetes.org/type-1-diabetes/diabetic-neuropathy.jsp

this is a good link. On the right hand side of the page is a link to a diabetic neuropathy checklist. You can do a self assessment here. I have a feeling if you use this you will definitely discover you do not have neuropathy - unless there is something you are not telling us