My last appointment I felt a bit of numbness in one toe. He said judging from my A1C's in the past (usually 6.0-7.0, for all 15 years of my diabetes) and the fact that I did not have retinopathy, that "I would have eye problems" if I had neuropathy in my feet.
Fast forward to now. I have studied the tell tale signs of peripheral neuropathy and I'm not sure if I am seeing signs. Some mornings I step out of bed and have a slight tingling at bottom of my feet which goes away after the first steps. Then I'll get random vibrating sensation on the very surface of my skin.
Here is the thing. I know neuropathy signs vary. But:
-I have read that the signs are symmetrical. While both feet of mine get a symptom here and there, they DO NOT happen at the same time/same distribution. -They certainly don't happen more frequently in my big toes (usual first signs)
-I have not had any eye problems at all or any other diabetic complications
-I have flat feet and used to wear inserts that were given to me by my foot doc when I was a kid (haven't worn them in a LONG time though)
-I walk a ton at work and my shoes might be too tight I'm not sure
-I have read a study that says 8/10 people who have neuropathy ALSO have retinopathy
I've had symptoms of peripheral neuropathy (both feet) since a few years after my diagnosis in 1984. My eyes have been examined annually and the doc has not detected any retinopathy. I'm not aware of the 8/10 statistic connecting neuropathy and retinopathy.
I consider my peripheral neuropathy mild since it never wakes me up at night and does not interfere with daily walks of 2-4 miles. It's sore like a bruise feels but I've never taken any meds to deal with the pain.
You need good quality shoes that fit well, especially since you walk a lot at work. You might consider a visit or two with a podiatrist so you can ask about some of your concerns. Foot complications are common in diabetics and not something that you should take lightly. The biggest concern that I would have is losing feeling in my feet and not realizing it. This is called "loss of protective sensation."
About two years ago I had some problems with ingrown toenails and visited a podiatrist several times. I decided then to see the foot doc once a month. He cuts my toenails, shaves my calluses, and examines my feet. I feel it is well worth the effort. Walking plays a large role in my health and my feet have to be in good shape to walk every day.
You ask good questions. I value this forum and also info I can gather at various web sites. It doesn't, however, replace an actual face-to-face doctor visit. Unlike some of my other doctor visits, I have never doubted the value of seeing my podiatrist. Good luck to you!
Terry, it is great to hear that you have kept the minor symptoms (ones like I have) under control for something like 23 years! I am a 25 year old guy who wants to marry and deal with these problems along the way by keeping them at bay with my blood sugars down. If I can be somewhat active in this time period, it would be a great joy.
I am just afraid they will progress REALLY fast, but I doubt it if I keep them sugars down!
Hmmm. I was first diagnosed with retinopathy over 20 years ago, which was successfully controlled. My vision is fine. No prescription glasses, just use peepers to read.
I just had a physical and my doc was amazed that I had sensitive feeling all the way to the tip of my toes.
I occasionally get short-duration twinges in my feet, but they are vary sporadic, have been going on for some years, and haven't gotten any worse. So, I'm not sure whether they are neuropathy or just plain age. My eyes were looked at very recently by a retina specialist (fluorescin angiogram) and he basically gave me a clean bill of health. Yeah, we're all different.
If you'd like to read something inspirational, check this out.
Look up Plantar fasciitis. It has some characteristics that sound like your symptoms. This is asymmetrical - I only had it in one foot. It affects your foot, not just your toes. Often worst in the morning, then may get better or go away once tendon is stretched out. I had this pretty bad several years ago after badly pulling my tendon while exercising (jumping rope in bare feet) - the pain was pretty severe (at one point I needed crutches) - but maybe you have a milder case? I've read this is more likely to affect diabetics, and it also is more likely with flat feet (which I don't have but you do). Mine came on when my BG was pretty unstable - it helped motivate me to figure out how to manage my BG better. After several months it resolved completely and has not come back. There are stretching exercises that are easy to do and easy to find online that help - you could try doing these and see if your symptoms improve.
Also, look for a correlation between foot symptoms and your BG. Does it happen more when your BG is high? I've read that toe numbness when BG is high can be a very early sign of neuropathy risk - though it sounds like you're not getting toe numbness as much as other symptoms.
I have had peripheral neuropathy for about 20 years. I do have traces of reitenopathy but i really think saying this will happen is a bit harsh. My mom for instance had reintenopathy long before peripheral neuropathy. So what is right or wrong I feel is more individual than everyone will do this or that.
Having said that I have heard of an association but I have not heard of a definite link. I suggest you might want to see a podiatrist. I found one suggested by my endo and he suggested diabetic footware which i like a lot, annual checkups, which he does in addition to my endo and he is on call when i get scared about my feet, which is more than I want.
One thing I can say is that my peripheral neuropathy did not just happen all at once. It started slow, hurt, got better, got worse, went away came back. It was not a straight line progression.
it does not happen more when my BG is high, and I have only noticed any changes within the past few weeks. I am not in a period of bad readings either. I have only recently noticed this kind of thing. The vibrating or any sort of tingling happens like this:
One day, my right big toe on the side might feel a tiny tingling, while my left foot/toes feel fine simultaneously. Then hours later my second toe on the left foot will feel vibration, while my right foot is fine. Then other times both feet would be sore or just one. I was under the impression that the signs I should be getting would be simultaneous. AKA both big toes throbbing at the same time, or both pins and needles at the same time, or numb, ect
also, i thought neuropathy starts at the the end of the toes first and works its way towards the middle of the body like stocking/glove
I had Retinopathy in my left eye 22 years after I was dxd. It was lasered and my eyes are good except I need reading glasses for about 6 years now. I had Neuropathy about 39 years after I was dxd. It was my middle toe on my left foot. It felt like I was walking on a water blister cuz it was numb. No blister. The numbness spread to the sole of my foot. When I went to bed, I felt stabbing pains in the sides and top of my foot. My sugars had been out of control all year since I was "too busy".
I managed to get my sugars back down to a good level and I finally got the feeling back in the sole and toe after a long time. I haven't been out of control since. I was lucky that it was minor, so that it could be reversed. My older Brother lost his middle toe, so that scared me. Good luck to you Christoph.
Oh and R-ALA helps also with Neuropathy and other issues. Thanks for that info Gerri! :)
It is also possible that you are suffering an impingement. It may or may not be related to diabetes. The impingement can be happening in your back, hips or legs. You sciatic nerve runs down your back through your hips into your leg and the symptoms you describe seem consistent (even asymmetrical). You can get an impingement from just sitting with your legs crossed to much, nothing to do with diabetes.
