[Nickneedshelp]

I dont know if this type of post fits the forum, and im sorry if it doesn't, i just need to ask for help about my neuropathy because I am so saddened and desperate. I am 22years old and I have had diabetes for 11 years now. My A1cs have averaged about 7.8-8 during the those years. Now, after about 4 years of limited physical activity, i have grown to 350lbs (at 6,3) and have begun experiencing extreme tingling in my feet at any angle but level. My Hands also fall asleep (?) at night unless i stick them directly at my side. I cannot believe that this is simply bad blood sugar, i am convinced i have kidney or liver disease since I am an extremely heavy drinker at 10-13 drinks of vodka a night. These symptoms of neuropathy have begun only in the last 6 months, and I only began to notice them in the last 3 or 4 months. This neuropathy has come on so suddenly, and i have reduced my carb intake by 80% an test my BS 10 times a day so I have almost perfect control now, but it is still getting worse. I am so scared, I feel in just 3 months I have realized my life is over, I cannot sleep, only imagining whether i can live in a wheelchair, or without arms, or blind. I desperatley need help, i dont understand how such intense pins and needles can strike over so few months. I am despondent, and I dont want to die, please help me. I have had dreams for my life and now i only dream to live another 10 years. I am so scared.

[Matt9332]

Slow down man, Go to your doctor as soon as you can, and hopefully they can resolve your problems. I feel for you and I wish the best of luck.

[Nickneedshelp]

Thank you Matt, I have an endocrinology appt in Februaruy, but I really feel something is wrong and getting worse right now. In the last 6 months I have gone from regular human being to someone with constant pins and needles in my feet, at any leverl above 95 degrees, and my hands fall aseep at night unless just right. The quickness of my descent into these symptoms makes me so scared it is a kideny or liver problem, but i dont want ot tell my doctoro that, i am shy. I dont want to lose my feet or hands, but i see this as the start from which there is no return. I want to live, I am just 22, and I feel my life is over. I told my very best friend that I am SCARED SCARED SCARED and he cant understand, my girlfirend expects me to be there for her but I am not going to last long in terms of years of life. I have been unhappy at times, but now i really want to live. Please help me, i feel so lost and alone, how could i have done this to myself?

[Evermont]

Nick,

If I were you I would:

1) Develop a plan and set some goals. You can overcome anything if you apply yourself. You seem motivated enough.

2) Maintain the improved control of your BG levels as this is what leads to the neuropathy. Your recent reduction in carbs may help. Did you cut out the bad carbs and keep the good carbs?

3) Lose weight. Do you know how? Can you exercise?

4) Calm yourself. Stress doesn't help, it just makes things worse.

5) Tell your doctor everything even though you are 'shy'. They need to hear it all so they can help you. Write a letter with all of your concerns and any info that may help and get it to your doctor a week or so before your appointment.

6) Control or quit the drinking. Get help if you need it. Can you do just 2 per day?

7) Replace your fears with knowledge. Finding DF is a good start. Welcome!

[xMenace]

Welcome Nick,

People turn themselves around daily. If you are resolved to do so, we're with ya! I can't add anything new, but it is real important to get that A1C down to 6ish.

[Matt9332]

I suggest you visit your doctor NOW.

[Dan Gato]

Nick, welcome to the forums

I agree with everything that Evermont said.

Go to see the doc ASAP. don't wait.
Keep reading the forums.

[deansreef]

quit the heavy drinking today!!! take it one day at a time. we are all here to try and help.

Dean

[DCaplinger]

Nick:

I totally agree with everyone else here... you need to see a doctor immediately. I'd call the endo back and see if you can't get in sooner.

Remember, neuropathy can be reversed if it's treated properly and aggressively. YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary). You definitely need to halt the alcohol intake, and try to get physical. Even if you have problems standing, there are exercises you can do to help strengthen your legs. Make sure to work with your doctor on a plan that will work for you.

In the mean time, we are here for you.

Regards,

Darian

[slipperyelm]

Oh, man, you've got a lot to work on. When a lot of things have gotten bad in your health, it can be so hard to start turning any of them around because each problem area seems to interfere with getting another problem area taken care of.

All I can say is never give up. If there is even one tiny thing you can improve, do so. Then after you have made that tiny improvement consistently, see if you can improve it just a little bit more.

The tingly pain and numbness in your hands and feet might not entirely be from your diabetes. There are other things that can cause it. Even over weight can contribute to it. The bulk of your own body can press on nerves and constrict blood vessels so that you don't get good circulation to your arms and legs. The positions you sleep in can exacerbate it. It is not necessary diabetes only causing it. Losing a few pounds might help get you some relief. I got a lot, but not total, relief from the same in my arms and hands when I lost weight, so I can give personal testimony to that particular "miracle."

I don't know if you are on a medicine for insulin resistance, but metformin can cause a deficiency of one of the B vitamins. B vitamins are necessary for healthy nerves!! This can be supplemented, and many doctors are recmmoneding it for their patients on metformin.

Alcohol interferes with getting enough of certain B vitamins, yet as I said, B vitamins are essential for healthy nerves! Even if you do not stop drinking, you should tell your doctor how much you drink so that s/he can put you on the appropriate B-vitamin supplements. Really, this is pretty standardly done for alcoholics. That might help keep the nerve damage from getting worse as quickly as it has bee up till now. Maybe it would even allow some reversal of the problem? Of course, getting off the alcohol would be a huge help to your health, I think.

I encourage you to tell your endocrinologist or any other doctor about this problem. Don't just go in there and tell them you are doing better on blood glucose control and get a lab report back showing an improved A1c. Tell them this real problem that is interfering with your life and making you depressed and scared. They have some ways to address it if it is due to nerve damage.

Please look into whether the over the counter supplement R-alpha lipoic acid such as in the brand "Insulow" might be helpful to you. There are other brands of it, but I don't know their names. Incidentally, this brand also has a B-vitamin in it, since R-alpha lipoic acid is another substance that causes one to need more of the B-vitamin (biotin). Anyway, I have read that alpha lipoic acid can help nerves heal, too. (For me, what I see it doing is to bring down my BG. I'm type 2.)

Good luck. You've got a lot to work on, but there are quite a few things you can start to do and try to get better. I really hope that will happen for you. Others have before you, so why not you? Please try not to feel hopeless. I know it is scary, but you can probably turn some of it around. (You do know that all that alcohol can get in the way though, right?)

[Nickneedshelp]

Thank for your support guys, I am feeling alot of relief today and am getting bloodork done thursday. I am taking 3 5000mcg b12 vitamins sublingually, making my urine appear an intense neon yello. The thing i am desperate to find out is if this sudden neuropathy could be caused by kidney or liver failure. I kno alcohol can cause neuropathy too. The suddeness of my symptoms have made me really nervous that i have a major, specific problem causing this besides my heaviness, non stellar average blood sugars or inactivity. Is it possible that liver or kidney failure could do this so quickly?

[Cyborg]

If it truly is neuropathy there are medications available that can help the symptoms or even reverse the neuropathy itself. Keep the best control possible as that will also help. Make sure you are on the correct medication(s) and/or insulin for your (confirmed) type of diabetes and get your a1c down. Do these things and your chances for complications will be greatly reduced. Every 1% drop in a1c can help reduce your risk for complications by approximately 40%. Good luck...

[parrotletzoo]

Remember with neuropathy sudden improvements in blood sugar control can make the pain and tingling seem worse which can be frustrating. It may seem worse before it gets better and may take awhile to have improvement but dont give up. The better your blood sugar control the sooner the pain will start to subside. (it took over a year of A1c under 7 for my neuropathy symptoms to go away) Omega 3 fatty acids in fish oils are good for nerve health and so is vitamin b6. Other people have pretty much covered it, so good luck, keep posting and welcome!

[notme]

Nick you will find a lot of support here.

The dark colored urine could possibly be from dehydration. Please up the water intake and decrease the alcohol intake.

You do have some work ahead of you. If you are motivated, you can reverse neuropathy. Your doctor should be able to help. AA might be something you should think about doing.

Good luck and check in often.

[Nickneedshelp]

Thanks again guys. To notme, my urine is bright neon yello, not dark, a sign that a have a lot of B vitamin passing through, so i dont think that is a bad sign. I am going to my GP today for a massive bruise and ankle injury from a fall, but I am alo going to pour out my heart about my neuropathy and hope for lyrica or neurontin, a b vitamin shot and hopefully ambien to help me sleep sans vodka. I have been so despondent about my situation lately that i have only been able to lay in bed and fear my future and I hope some ambien can help me sleep so i can get on a regular schedule and ecercise. sorry for my spelling but 4 of my keys dont ork (-see). The info I have found here has really helped me believe my neuropathy can be reversed, and I have already restructured my life greatly to do so.