I do a hormone replacement regimen where I take a very low dose through the month, just high enough to avoid hot flashing, hard to control blood sugar, and memory loss. Then for one week a month I don’t take the estrogen to simulate natural cycling. My gynecologist totally approves.
The week I’m off estrogen, I find I get not only hot flashes but dramatic COLD flashes where my hands get like ice. I was getting cold flashes with NO hotflashes all through perimenopause too. Estrogen does something to the temperature regulation system, I read, which makes it much more sensitive to tiny changes in ambient temperature.
Interesting. I am not completely through menopause yet and this makes a lot of sense to me. I don’t get proper hot flashes, but do have warm ones and these alternate with feeling really cold. Good old hormones, eh?
I’m 61 and sailed throught he menopause several years ago with no symptoms. this was before I was diagnosed, (but probably already diabetic!!) Nevertheless I was and still am cold a lot of the time… In fact I went through a period in my late 20s when I was diagnosed with thyroid insufficiency. I spent all the time bundled up in layers of woolly clothes and that’s when I put on weight. ( The south East of England isn’t all that cold either) As I write this I’m beginning to think maybe the doctor who told me eventually that there isn’t anything wrong with my thyroid and took me off medication is mistaken and I’ve got more than one metabolic problem.
I’ve had issues of cold sensitivity since my teens, but it was worst the first winter I was diagnosed with diabetes – my fingernails now turn black when I get chilled, and my fingertips go numb (and sometimes my toes as well). We tested for thyroid, Raynaud’s, lupus, and a whole bunch of other things. All negative.
The doc had me tested for, and found, chronic venous insufficiency in my left leg the summer before, and figured that might be related to poor circulation in the feet.
Coming up with no valid separate diagnosis for the symptoms, we had to conclude it was diabetes-related circulation issues.
BTW, this happens regardless of my BG levels… but physical activity eases the symptoms. OTTH, I’m finding some mild venous return issues that cause redness and swelling if I let my extremities get too warm…
One thing I like for cold hands are reusable hand warmers, similar to these: http://www.campingsurvival.com/prreha.html . The ones I have work really well and were fabulous when it dropped to -40 this winter. They don’t stay warm an incredibly long time, but they’re pretty cheap and so easy to reset by boiling. I’ve always got a couple tucked into my purse now.
Debb, I have been diabetic for 62 years and I have cold feet and for as long as I can remember. The rest of me is cold too, most of the time. Part of my problem is I am borderline anemic. I take iron pills to help with this. Anemia also causes fatigue and takes away a lot of my desire to get-up-and-go. Maybe you should look into the possibility of anemia if you tire very easily. I alwayts wrap up in a blanket when sitting down unless it is a very hot day. My problem is worse now with the anemia. Good luck to you!
A few years ago, we had a very cold winter. It was also the winter I was on beta blockers, which lowered my resting pulse rate to something like 54. My winter attire was: silk long johns (top and bottom), covered by thin cashmere turtleneck (top) and wool long johns (bottom), covered by heavy blue jeans and cashmere v-neck, covered by sweatshirt, covered by polar-fleece overshirt, and two layers of socks. Still had issues with my toenails and fingernails turning black from cold…
My Grandfather always said, " Cold hands, Cold feet equals one warm heart!"
ahhh. I miss him.
I had my feet frost bit at the ripe age of 10. Had cold feet ever since. I cant step into water without them hurting. I got tendonitus when I was a file clerk for a couple of years. I always blamed the bad circulation on that. Damp and cold bother me greatly! I was once told that I had rheumatoid arthritus. All I understand about that is pain in my muscles and joints. I hear there is medicine for it. My Dr’s at any point in my life have never given me a script to ease it. I was always told I was too young for the any kind of arthritus. Am I still too young?(49)
Just keep warm:)
Snuggling and Huggling really works best.
So here are some Huggles and Snuggles to help:)
MeadowLark
People can have arthritis at any age. The “poster child” for an arthritis ad I used to see showed a preteen girl in a wheel chair with bowed legs from crippling arthritis. I was diagnosed with arthritis when I was in my late 40’s. An arthritis specialist told me that my diabetes had probably caused it. That was 20 years ago and I doubt that an arthritis specialist would say that now.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease and, like T1 diabetes and celiac disease, can strike at any age – especially at young ages. Osteoarthritis is a wear-and-tear disease that strikes adults, usually from middle-age onward. Physical stressors such as obesity can hasten its development, as can multiple childbirth (loosens and changes the orientation of the hip and thigh joints). Osteoarthritis can be diagnosed from x-rays of the affected area.
I was diagnosed with Type 1 about a year ago. I live in VT & have always been cold in general. My friends would always make fun of me because I would be wearing a Winter coat & they weren’t. But, I have to say…my hands seem to be colder a lot more since diagnosed. Even in the summer. They are freezing right now & I am inside. Weird,
Silk is wonderful! I wear a silk vest(undershirt) on cold days, nothing keeps me warmer and it feels so good too.
there’s a wonderful British company “Patra”, who sell on the web, whose silk clothing is great.
Hi Judith, I haven’t ever felt bamboo fabric. I did however find a top made of knitted linen, earlier this summer. It feels so lovely on the skin. I wore it in Spain, in June, where thetemperature varied betwen 32 and 40 degrees C. VERY hot. but a dry heat. I’d only ever seen woven linen before and i hate hw it creases
I wear woven linen for historical reenactment. While many reenactors say linen is cooler than cotton in summer, and warmer than cotton in winter, I haven’t found it at all cooler in summer. Knitted linen is lovely and lightweight, but in my limited experience, it is extremely fragile (when it in theory should not be).
I wouldn’t feel comfortable with an external heat source on my legs at night, I’d feel safer in bedsocks. Warm them before putting on. a hairdryer is ideal for this.
