[Penny]

I had a terrible night. I could not sleep for the pain in my foot. It really started last week, I talked to the doctor about it, but he did not seem much concerned, and it was not as bad as it is now. I push myself to walk, and always have pain in my hips and feet, for doing it. But I make myself do it every day. Yesterday, I had many jobs to do, so was walking extra and climbed our stairs many times, too. Last night the pain in my feet and especially the left one was so bad, I could not sit , stand or lie down to get any relief. I finally was able to sleep for about 2 hours after taking a large dose of Ibuprofen. Today it is letter, but the left foot still hurts.
Today was the time to call my doctor for the results of my A1C, and other things. It was 7.0, up from the last of 6.4. My fasting level the morning of the test was 193. All my fasting levels are high. Then from about noon on, they stay low (60 to 100). This morning it was 203, but considering the night I had endured, to be expected. The doctor again did not seem to want to deal with my foot problems, said to call again and he would refer me to a foot doctor. He wants to increase my before bedtime Lantus, keep the split, but increase the Lantus, 5 units at a time???
He kind of left it up to me. I don't think increasing the Lantus is going to help, but have no idea what to do.
I guess I don't have any questions, just need some sympathy for how bad I am feeling. OK, maybe one question. Does anyone else have this much foot pain? One more question...what do you do about it?

[valc3]

Penny, sorry to hear you are in pain. I don't suffer from foot pain, so I can't be of any help.

I hope you find out what it is and what to do about it.

[sofaraway]

can you give your feet a bit of a rest for a while? try other types of exercise, like cycling, that would take the pressure off your feet. or swimming that is suppossed to be the best thing for your joints.

I don't know what dose of lantus you are already on, but my nurse would only go up in 2 unit intervals every 3 days, to make sure it was safe. maybe she was over cautious i don't know. it might be that 5 units isn't a big % of your current dose.

hope your feet start feeling better soon

[Penny]

Originally Posted by sofaraway

can you give your feet a bit of a rest for a while? try other types of exercise, like cycling, that would take the pressure off your feet. or swimming that is suppossed to be the best thing for your joints.

I don't know what dose of lantus you are already on, but my nurse would only go up in 2 unit intervals every 3 days, to make sure it was safe. maybe she was over cautious i don't know. it might be that 5 units isn't a big % of your current dose.

hope your feet start feeling better soon

I take 50 units at night, 20 in the morning. I will do 55 tonight, but the 20 will stay the same.

[duck]

Get the referral to the podiatrist. Your doc may be trying to tell you he doesn't know much about feet, and actually, they are very complicated, lots of bones and ligaments and tedons and other various soft tissues...and nerves. He might be saying "I don't want to say anything silly, so here, ask this guy..." You may want to ask when you call to set up your appointment if the podiatrist has any experience with treating diabetic-foot issues.

[4519]

If this pain is diabetic related then getting your blood glucose numbers down will help a lot. The most lax standards say that 7.0 is danger zone. You know this already though. If this terrible pain is not enough to convince any of us to shot for lower blood glucose numbers, lower the better. Pain and other complications are not just a normal progression of diabetes - they are a progression of maintaining too high glucose numbers.

Get to a good foot doctor, as is mentioned above. There are things that can be done.

[Keezheekoni]

Penny, where is the pain in your foot? I'm wondering because I had a similar type of problem and found out that I had a bone spur and a neuroma in between my toes on the ball of my foot. Once they removed both I felt immensely better. But, it did take an x-ray and a podiatrist to figure out what the problem was! I was seriously sleep deprived until they figured it out, gave me some pain meds, until the surgery... I do know what a killer foot pain is. It's almost like if your feet aren't happy, you can't be happy!

[Penny]

4519......From noon until about 4am, my numbers are really good. My morning numbers are way too high, and I can't seem to change that. I fasted 13 hours before seeing my doctor Friday, and I was 193. Last night, I fasted about 10 hours and was 203 this morning.

Duck......I am going to see the foot guy, I just have had one too many nights like this. But I am beginning to think it is something else as my legs and hips are hurting and I do not feel good at all.

Rikki.....The pain is all over my feet, if I had to say a place it is the worst, maybe the top joint area, close to my ankles. But my heels and toes hurt, and I feel like I am walking on gravel. Today, my feet burn in spots, yet feel cold.

[4519]

Penny, When I said your numbers had to be lower I did not mean that like it is something that you can just do by wishing it so. There is a direct relationship between the problems with legs and feet to blood sugars - you particular problems may not even be diabetic related - you don't know that as yet. An A1c of 7 says the averages(so to speak) are too high. I guess it all depends on what each of us thinks are really good numbers.

[Penny]

Originally Posted by 4519

Penny, When I said your numbers had to be lower I did not mean that like it is something that you can just do by wishing it so. There is a direct relationship between the problems with legs and feet to blood sugars - you particular problems may not even be diabetic related - you don't know that as yet. An A1c of 7 says the averages(so to speak) are too high. I guess it all depends on what each of us thinks are really good numbers.

I hate calling you by a number, do you have a name? I did not take offense. But I work so hard to keep good control, and I still have high fasting numbers. I count my carbs and seldom cheat. I test a lot, and what I have to eat usually depends on my numbers. I exercise as much as I am capable of at this point, though I know it is not enough. I push myself even when I am in pain. I am not happy with the 7, but cannot seem to lower it. But less than a year ago, I was close to 10. Just wanted you to know, I am trying.

[4519]

4519 is an old address of mine.

I don't doubt that you are trying - I only think that when someone actually just comes out and says I am not trying.

Exercise with pain is really difficult - I have hard enough time with only the pain of doing it. Each pain is so individual to comment about it with any knowledge. My wife has arthritis and works through the pain - I cannot do that myself.

One of the problems with email or forums is that the short replies or statement we make can come across so more than we intend. This is a support forum and not a blame or 'get on your case' forum. It is difficult to suggest different diet suggestions because there are such differences in thinking on the basics - I am low carb/high good fat - not 100% of the time - what I say is not always what I do - I guess I am just normal in that way.

As far as counting carbs - I don't. I have learned what works for me and stick with it - I shoot for as low as I can get on the carbs and go with that. I lost 70 pounds doing that along with metformin/avandia. I follow the thinking of Bernstein without the real strict diet he teaches. He is so much more than just diet - he is a way of thinking about food, med's and exercise.

bob (don't tell anyone)

[Penny]

Originally Posted by 4519

bob (don't tell anyone)

I promise I won't tell a soul. Thanks for trying to help. I do try, I could do better, but I have other health issues, heart and cancer (in remission). My husband gets mad at me for joking about it, but I figure if I got to have all this, why can't I have the good part of it like the weight loss, too!

[am1977]

Penny, I'm sorry that you are in so much pain... I would definitely seek a doctor's opinion if it dosen't go away or improve at least... In the meantime, try to put your feet up when you can and don't do anything too strenuous! Keep us posted

[Penny]

Originally Posted by am1977

Penny, I'm sorry that you are in so much pain... I would definitely seek a doctor's opinion if it dosen't go away or improve at least... In the meantime, try to put your feet up when you can and don't do anything too strenuous! Keep us posted

Thanks Am. My feet(and legs and hips) still hurt, and I need sleep. I took some Ibuprofen and it hasn't helped. I sure hate to have another night like the last one. Just don't know what to do.

[gettingby]

Penny, I'm sorry that you are in so much pain. Hopefully you will be able to sleep better tonight. Keep us updated. I worry about my "family" members (my forums family, that is).