HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Peripheral Neuropathy ? I need advise

Support Forums
>
Diabetes
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 12/27/2005 5:27 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everybody.

I believe I am doing quite well in my efforts. Two days back I checked my FBS & it came out to be 5.2. The surprising thing is the small effort that I really had to put in. I only walk for half an hour 3-4 days per week or play badminton for 1 hour for 3-4 days per week. My diet i almost the same as to my previous one, only that I have given up simple sugars. Lastly, I take NO medication. Can I do OK without medication if I can keep this up i.e. below 5.5.

Now, to a more serious topic. I was diagnosed with type 2 only after registering tingling feelings and loss of partial control over my right arm. Since, I have started walking and eating right, they have gone away completely. However, every night, at around 2:15 AM, I feel this slight numbness in my hand. In fact, it is so slight that I am beginning to doubt whether there is truly anything in it. I have tried doing one-handed push-ups to test the numbness and I could do it even better than what I normally can! Also, this seems to occur when I sleep on my right side. Could this be due to the lack of blood circulation in my right hand when I sleep? Or if it is indeed neuropathy, what tests will provide me with the definitive answer?

Someone who has gradually developed neuropathy would be the best person to answer I believe.

Finally, on another note, does anyone know whether glaucoma can be permanently prevented/stopped (not cured or reversed) once diagnosed?


Regards,

AM
Posted 12/27/2005 6:03 PM (GMT 0)
Hi AM_BD,

Being someone that has Neuropathy in his feet I can proably answer your questions.  1st off, if you have Neuropathy, it doesn't come and go.  It can often be a spot or an area that tingles or goes numb.  More often it is severe pain in an area for some time before the numbness sets in (thats the nerves actually dying).  What it sounds like you have, is a reaction from knowingly or unknowingly sleeping on your arm.  If the tingling were constant, in the same place and didn't go away, I'd say you were a candidate for Neuropathy.

However, one more thing.  With Diabetics, the most common place for Neuropathy to start is in the feet and legs, not in the arms.  Im not saying it couldn't start in the arms, but that is a much much rarer occurance.  If your blood sugar numbers are in the ranges they should be, you can most probably rule out neuropathy.  I'd keep doing what youre doing and not really worry about it unless the symptoms become more pronounced.

scool  Warren

Posted 12/27/2005 11:32 PM (GMT 0)
Hi AM...

Just a little to add to what Warren says. I have neuropathy in my hands and feet and have had it for some time. The hands one was not obvious to me until my children started helping in the bakery. I was washing pans in scalding water and totally unaware of it. My hands were red, but I figured that was what hot water did. My entire family really came down on me and made me regulate the water temp better and I've been put on high alert by them all to ALWAYS wear my huge oven mitts when working with the oven and with the MICROWAVE. If I bring a dish to the table without my mitts one of them will touch it to see how hot it is and then the lectures start... I have just found it much easier to work with quite warm water and wear the dumb mitts. I never had the tingling in my hands or feet... just have a lack of feeling. I do sometimes have the pain and that comes and goes but the worst thing I have found with neuropathy is to have an itch under the skin on the bottom of my foot or palm of my hand or finger... and to not be able to scratch it! Drives me INSANE!
Posted 12/28/2005 12:41 AM (GMT 0)

Dear AM,

            1)since your fasting glucose values are below 100 mg%,diet control should suffice.These days post-breakfast or post-lunch(2 hours after food)tests are also being given lot of importance,so try and do these tests.

          2) Regarding the numbness you feel in the right hand,it may be because,as you mentioned,reduced blood flow to the right hand when you lie on your right side.Testing for your ability to recognize sensations like A)Touch,B)Vibration and C)Heat and cold,are the definitive tests to rule out peripheral neuropathy and should be done in a hospital or clinic.A Doppler study to check for circulation of blood in your limbs is also uesful.Iam writing about all these tests since you wanted definitive evidence for peripheral neuropathy cool

                                                                               sharer

Posted 12/29/2005 4:00 PM (GMT 0)
Dear Everybody,

Thanks a lot for you helpful advises.

Sharer: I tried all the neuropathy tests except the field doppler test and they all came out fine. There were no problems. Furthermore, my post lunch BS is 7.7. I know it's a bit high but I am working on it.

Another Inquiry (I really hope I am not irritating you all). Would it help my BS control if I do weight training to build up muscles?Since I am quite young, it is a real option. Or is it better to continue with the aerobic activties - such as playing badminton/tennis?

Thanks Again.

Regards,

AM_BD
Posted 12/29/2005 4:39 PM (GMT 0)
Dear AM_BD,
congrats!As all your tests have come out normal,i think all your doubts about peripheral neuropathy can be laid to rest.Iam not very comfortable with Mmols/litre values as every value i have to multiply by 18;anyway no sweat.Your post-prandial value is fine(7.7 multiplied by18=138.6),as it,s below the threshold value of 140.Weight training should'nt be a problem as long as you continue your aerobics,but do you have time for both,and if you do have the time,hats off!Iam a new member myself,but iam enchanted by the flow and exchange of ideas in this forum;what do you say?
sharer
Posted 12/31/2005 4:00 AM (GMT 0)
Dear Sharer,

Thanks for your observations. Yes, I agree that this forum is truly a wonderful place. Warren, Jeannie & others like them have been really commendably helpful. I really don't know whether I could have started on my regimen without their directions. Finally, recently I came across the concept of "Tight Control" by American Diabetic Association. It is defined as "levels between 90 and 130 mg/dl before meals, and less than 180 two hours after starting a meal, with a glycated hemoglobin level less than 7 percent."

Now, my FBS is consistently below 100 & After-meal FBS below 140. So, can I really afford to let my BS rise to the prescribed levels, or should I keep it at my current levels? Furthermore, since I am only 22 would it really be wise to follow the ADA's prescription since it might be applicable for older diabetics. Lastly, my doctor told me that at all times my BS (Pre & Post-prandial) should be between 90-144. Is he a little bit too tough on setting the limits?

Regards,

AM_BD
Posted 12/31/2005 4:52 AM (GMT 0)
Without going into my great dislike for the ADA lets look at your question.

No, you should not let your numbers go higher than your own doctor wants.

FBS's of less than 100 are in the normal range that every human should be able to have. There might be reasons whey this does not happen, but it is the range that should be the target, just as your doctor has said to you.

He is not too tough setting the goals of 90-144 for pre to post prandial. You should thank him for at least being up on how to treat diabetes. The standards you quoted for the ADA do not refer to only older persons. They just are out of the loop on this, greatly out of the loop. Oh, there I go again. I have to focus here.

The normal A1c range is in the mid 4's. The current thinking(Medical Research) that an A1c above 4.7 puts you in danger of heart problems. I cannot comment on this only to say that it has been reported and setting a target of less than 7.0 is is is is.... on darn. It should obvious if you research the current thinking.

You sound like your doctor has a handle on your situation. Discuss this with him and see what he says. The lower you postprandial numbers are the better. Don't take my word for it - normal is not a dirty word.
Posted 12/31/2005 5:01 AM (GMT 0)
Am,

You have a very good physician. Follow his advice. He isn't being tough on you, just giving you strong guidelines to follow so you can live a long and full life. He's looking ahead to the kidney damage and eye problems you will have if you go bonkers and err on the side of "just this one time... " every day.

Don't be suprised if you do have a sudden rebellion and need to just go all out. My doc told me that if I can keep my numbers in line all month I may have a 'chinese buffet' night and satisfy my need for a little fun food. Actually it ends up being a lot of mushrooms and meat and very little lo mein but I still like to feel like I'm indulging myself.

I had a friend whose mom was on dialysis (sp?) and I really want to avoid that! She had to watch her water intake, protein intake as well as all her carbs. It was a long row to hoe and she didn't last very long before the good Lord took her. You being careful now will mean that you can avoid the long range damage so many diabetics experience. Hang in there and remember to thank that 'tough doc' for his concern. Often diabetics don't follow the doctor's advice and then when it's too late they want the doc to fix it. It's very disheartening for the docs to watch patients go downhill when they have been given all the tools they need to succeed.

You just KOKO! (Keep on keepin' on!)
Posted 12/31/2005 5:22 AM (GMT 0)

AM, re: your numbness and tingling in your hand/arm. 

Perhaps this is worth further research on your part:

"Carpal tunnel syndrome is where the median nerve becomes compressed as it passes through a tunnel of bones and tendons at the wrist. It results in pins and needles or pain affecting the thumb, index and middle fingers, in addition to sensations travelling up the arm. It is often worse at night. Untreated, the condition can lead to loss of feeling and weakness in part of the hand. It also frequently occurs in those without diabetes and can be associated with other conditions. Treatment includes splinting the arm at night, which usually provides only some symptom relief, and surgery to release the trapped nerve."

I have similar sypmtoms to those listed.  In my case, I believe it comes from my Nintendo addiction. 

Jak

Posted 12/31/2005 5:38 AM (GMT 0)
Dear All,

My hand is PERFECT now. Since I have been playing an hour of badminton every day, I have registered no problems. But still I will look into it during my next visit to the docs.

Thanks Everybody.

Regards,

AM_BD
Posted 1/3/2006 8:51 AM (GMT 0)
Dear AM_BD,
your doctor is right on the button as he has set you the correct goals:so go for it and aim for being within those values.Your Hba1c will be below 7,if you strictly follow your physician's advise and that's very,very fine.Your youth is your strength and not a weakness!Motivation to be and feel well is possibly the best present you can give yourself in 2006.
sharer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply