neuropathy?

[justducky2]

Hello, I'm a new type 2 (borderline, my dr is giving me until January to try to reform my eating/exercise habits).

I'm having low-grade pain in my hands and arms - just very achy, weakness, tingling at night. My hands are cold, too.

Does anyone think that this could be diabetes- related? I haven't been doing a good job at all of taking care of myself...I admit that....I've not been eating right (low carbing) or exercising, as I' e spent the past 3 months exhaustively working on my thesis for my master's degree...eating fast food constantly, not low carbing.

On top of this, I went from endometrial, horrible 7 day periods, to irregular, scanty, 4 day periods (I'm 42).

Anyone else have any kind of experiences like this? I will go see the doctor, but I'd like to wait until January (if this isn't serious) for her to get back from maternity leave.

[eddiemcm]

We can help for basic things but,in some cases,
medical intervention is required.Best herbal
supplement for neuropathy is 600-1000 mg
of alpha lipoic acid taken in 2-3 daily doses.
Product is available at www.vitacost.com
among other places.

[Markm]

..... I'm having low-grade pain in my hands and arms - just very achy, weakness, tingling at night. My hands are cold, too.

Does anyone think that this could be diabetes- related? ......
Doesn't sound like neuropathy to me .... Are you taking a statin (can cause muscular pain)? And have you had your Thyroid checked out (can cause cold hands)?

Mark

[Cajunboy47]

It could be diabetic neuropathy or it could be carpal tunnel syndrome. You mentioned pain at night is more severe and that leans towards carpal tunnel. Cold hands could be diabetic neuropathy. Tingly, achy and weakness could be either or something else. Also Diabetes can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome.

The good news is if it is diabetic related, it is reversible. Alpha Lipoic Acid, as was recommended in another post is a good start. Getting control of diabetes if you have it is very important in reversing the effects of the disease.

I reversed my neuropathy and it was considered severe. It improved within a very short period of time, less than a month.

good luck to you.

Cajunboy47

[Lessara]

I'm curious, I have type 2 diabetes as well and just in the last month my feet have been tingling and I was wondering if the alpha lipoic Acid helps with the body to reduce Neuropathy or just it helps with the symptoms?

[Gostrydr]

Lessara,

Look into Methylcobalamin for Neuropahty. It is a highly abosrbed form of B-12. I believe you have to start with a high dose(I think they are sublingual) and work your way down.

It is more specific for Neuropahty than ALA

[Cajunboy47]

I'm curious, I have type 2 diabetes as well and just in the last month my feet have been tingling and I was wondering if the alpha lipoic Acid helps with the body to reduce Neuropathy or just it helps with the symptoms?


Diabetic Neuropathy is the only neuropathy where it can be reversed. When the symptoms disappear, the neuropathy goes away too.... But, it can come back, so you must control your diabetes BG levels.. I am not including diabetic retinopathy, as I think once you have that, it may not be reversible....

These are the supplements I take and I am doing great with it. Depending on the severity of the neuropathy, your diet, your BG control, your level of exercise, it will all determine what outcome you have......:

V-M-H Supplements

Alpha Lipoic Acid 100 mg

Antioxidant (D-Care) 2 Tablets

Chromium Picolinate 400 mcg

Cinnamon 500 mg

CO Q-10 50 mg

Fish Oil w/omega-3 2g

Ginseng Complex 1 Tablet

M-V Diabetes Formula 2 Tablets

Super B-Complex 1 Tablet

Vitamin B-12 1000 mcg

Vitamin C 4g

Vitamin E 1000 iu

[Zuleikaa]

I'm curious, I have type 2 diabetes as well and just in the last month my feet have been tingling and I was wondering if the alpha lipoic Acid helps with the body to reduce Neuropathy or just it helps with the symptoms?Vitamin D is excellent for neuropathy.

[ilovepink]

you might want to get your neck checked out for a herniated disc? similar symptoms. i have degenerative disc disease.

[Nancy LC]

Cold extremeties is also a sign of Reynaud's syndrome, a circulation disorder. :\ Hopefully it isn't that.

[Lisa N]

Cold extremities can be caused by a lot of things; low thyroid, circulation problems and carpal tunnel syndrome to name a few.
Neuropathy usually shows up in the feet before it shows up in the hands, though.
Tingling and weakness are more suggestive of a pinched nerve.
Either way, there are too many things that it could be to even guess and a visit to the doc is probably in order for a few tests to narrow the possibilities down.

[Lessara]

Well I do know my spine is good, my doctor check it with xray a year ago (though I do have some arthritis in my neck).
I do take 1000 vitamin D. Have been for years.
I have been back on the wagon for a week now and my needles and pricks are only a few a day not hour like before.
Just amazes me that if you listen to your body, or should I say feel, you body knows what you need to do. :)

[eddiemcm]

"Just amazes me that if you listen to your body, or should I say feel, you body knows what you need to do."
My body may know what do to but it never
seems to tell me in clear terms what to do.
Maybe we don't speak same language.

[ilovepink]

herniations cant be seen on xray. only mri's can detect them. i also have a torn disc in my lower back which only the mri could detect. so i have to lose weight or face surgery down the line...

[Lisa N]

My body may know what do to but it never
seems to tell me in clear terms what to do.
Maybe we don't speak same language.

LOL, eddie! It seems that the only time my body can communicate clearly is to tell me it doesn't like something I've done after I've done it. I have yet to learn the language well enough to understand when it's telling me, "You're not going to like the results if you do that". Guess that's why I have a brain, too. ;)

[dina1957]

Well I do know my spine is good, my doctor check it with xray a year ago (though I do have some arthritis in my neck).
I do take 1000 vitamin D. Have been for years.
I have been back on the wagon for a week now and my needles and pricks are only a few a day not hour like before.
Just amazes me that if you listen to your body, or should I say feel, you body knows what you need to do. :)
Check your Vit B-12 level, it is cery closely related to pricks and needles, and also even a modest osteoartiritis can cause pinched nerves.
I believe neuroptahy is more pain like and burning, not pricks and needles per se. Although, buring and pain can be due to fibromyalgia, and many women over 35 and even younger known to have this condition on and off.

[dina1957]

Hello, I'm a new type 2 (borderline, my dr is giving me until January to try to reform my eating/exercise habits).

I'm having low-grade pain in my hands and arms - just very achy, weakness, tingling at night. My hands are cold, too.

Does anyone think that this could be diabetes- related? I haven't been doing a good job at all of taking care of myself...I admit that....I've not been eating right (low carbing) or exercising, as I' e spent the past 3 months exhaustively working on my thesis for my master's degree...eating fast food constantly, not low carbing.

On top of this, I went from endometrial, horrible 7 day periods, to irregular, scanty, 4 day periods (I'm 42).

Anyone else have any kind of experiences like this? I will go see the doctor, but I'd like to wait until January (if this isn't serious) for her to get back from maternity leave.
Many of this symptoms can be attributed to begning perimenopause (cold hands, aching muscles and joints, fatigue) , especially iconsider your age and since your periods are irregular and vary from heavy to barely there.
I have muscles and jonts aches on and off, and it is in sync with my cycle, and yes, I too had cold hands when this whole process started, some symptoms come and go, but never completely go away, LOL. , that are not related to Bgs but caused by hormonal changes. Also, sicne you are under a lot of stress and perimenopausal, anxiety is a very likely to blame. Upper body pain and tingling are few of reported 34 symptoms of menopause.
http://www.altmednetwork.net/articles/34_menopause_symptoms.html
I could also suggest trying Power Surge, many women share their experience and advise on how to deal with this phase of our lives, helped me to understand and deal with my symptoms a lot. http://www.power-surge.com/ has helped thousands of women going through the change, hope you like it too.
Low carbing helps a lot, keeping BGs stable puts less burden on adrenals, so cleaning your diet alone may help with your symptoms.
Good luck!

[eddiemcm]

" LOL, eddie!"
I keep getting LOL'ed on this forum and I'm still
unsure of the meaning.
Oh well,another communications problem.
Eddie-martian trapped in Texas

[Lisa N]

" LOL, eddie!"
I keep getting LOL'ed on this forum and I'm still
unsure of the meaning.
Oh well,another communications problem.
Eddie-martian trapped in Texas

LOL = laughing out loud

For a list of other common abbreviations, click this link (http://www.lowcarb.ca/tips/tips003.html) :)

[danabear]

I had the same symptoms with carpal tunnel. Still do. It acts up most when I get "swollen", or bloated I guess. My hands and fingers swell. I take a supplement called Aqua B-6 and it helps a lot with the water retention.

[tyler883]

Symptoms of neuropathy are due to permanent nerve damage caused by excessive blood glucose. Treatment involves early and strict control of your blood glucose levels.

Alpha Lipoic Acid (600mg per day) is a common over the counter suppliment that has potential therapeutic value. There are claims that it can reverse some of the neuropathy, but the medical establishment still insists that the nerve damage is permanent.

I started to experience neuropathy in my feet last November, and I experienced about an 80% recovery after 3 days worth of ALA. But, I also started a high blood pressure prescription at the same time, and this drug has been known to improve blood circulation.

So, It is possible that some, or all of your neuropathy symptoms are caused by poor circulation.

Anyway, neuropathy is a bad one, it can lead to undetected foot injuries, diabetic ulcers, amputations, and an unbearable pain that worsens as the nerve damage grows.

Its something to take serious. I'd see your doctor right away, and I also reccomend reading several websites about it.

Dont let your doctor down play the seriousness. And most importantly educate yourself.

[dansonya]

Well I do know my spine is good, my doctor check it with xray a year ago (though I do have some arthritis in my neck).
I do take 1000 vitamin D. Have been for years.
I have been back on the wagon for a week now and my needles and pricks are only a few a day not hour like before.
Just amazes me that if you listen to your body, or should I say feel, you body knows what you need to do. :)
I have two degenerating disks in my neck. The neuro I saw said basicly, I have arthritis in my neck and spine. Practically everyone eventually gets degenerative disk disease, it happens with old age. Mine is just happening sooner than most (I'm 35) Sometimes the nerves get pinched. when it gets bad, my arms hurt, and my fingers tingle like they have gone to sleep. it's usually my ring and pinky fingers. Sometimes it is the whole hands. I visit the Chiropractor and he gets the kinks out, and the symptoms go away for a while. An xray a year ago doesn't mean that there hasn't been further deteriation to your disks since then, if you have neck problems. You can also get a pinched nerve from twisting the wrong way, etc. See your doctor again, and if they rule out the cause being diabetes, have your neck checked again.