Feet

[timmerz]

Haven't seen much talk about feet, and they seem to be practically my number one problem at this point in my life...diagnosed 15 years ago Type 2, currently on 2 types of injected isulin (Novilin and Novolog), 56 year old male, overweight and under-exercised, basically...
For the past 3 months I have noticed my achilles tendons hurting more and more, to the point where I have to be VERY careful how I go up stairs and very careful about overly stretching them, and the pads of my feet seem to be melting away so that the bones are actually in close contact with whatever I'm walking on, and pain seems to be the daily routine rather than comfort....getting a little worried about how much Ibuprofin I'm doing, although it's all triple-buffered....I talked to my Doctor, and his response was to get me a Disabled placard for my car, nothing about any treatment or hope for improvement...
If this continues to progress I can see myself in a wheelchair within another year, for sure.
Opinions?

[Diana_CT]

For me, my feet feel like they are burning at night to a point where it is distracting when I am reading or trying to sleep. My endo thinks it might be circulation problems rather than nerve damage because they get better when I take a walk during the day.

When it has been raining or hot and humid and I don’t walk for a couple of days they start hurting again. Monday night was practically bad because of not having walked in a number of days because of the weather.

Right now I was getting ready to walk my 2 miles for the day.

[jbmacomber]

I would see a podiatrist to discuss care and treatment. A placard is all well and good, but not being able to walk isn't!

[patricia52]

I really don't have any advice. Having suffered through tendonitis in my feet, I understand your frustration.

[Diwakar]

I am 51, lean, male from India. I have been diagnosed as having D2, since the last 15 years. Recently, my blood ketones had gone upto 45%, which was an emergency. I was admitted into the ICU.Now, my bk is near normal, but strangely,I had to shift to insulion [intake of 10mg in the morn and 15 mg in the even],from tablet medicine. I the course of time I developed peripherial neuopathy on my limbs. Now, gangrene has set in, due to high ketones and other toxicins. Half of my right foot and toes are effected. Medication and dressing, are done on daily basis. There is improvement and am able to walk. My question is, is there a better way to speedup the prognosis and healing. I take moderate veg food and my BG hovers around 120 to 250 high.Insulin is used to keep the BG low to 120 mg/dl, by morn. I also take a herbal concotion on an empty stomoch, every morn.

Thank you all, for the patience.
Diwakar.

[jbmacomber]

So ,so sorry to hear of this. I do not know of help but will keep you in prayers.

[patricia52]

I will be praying for you. This is a terrible thing to happen. Maybe adding a mealtime insulin to bolus for spikes would lower your numbers and aid in healing. A pump would be better a better option if it is in the budget.

[timmerz]

I am 51, lean, male from India. I have been diagnosed as having D2, since the last 15 years. Recently, my blood ketones had gone upto 45%, which was an emergency. I was admitted into the ICU.Now, my bk is near normal, but strangely,I had to shift to insulion [intake of 10mg in the morn and 15 mg in the even],from tablet medicine. I the course of time I developed peripherial neuopathy on my limbs. Now, gangrene has set in, due to high ketones and other toxicins. Half of my right foot and toes are effected. Medication and dressing, are done on daily basis. There is improvement and am able to walk. My question is, is there a better way to speedup the prognosis and healing. I take moderate veg food and my BG hovers around 120 to 250 high.Insulin is used to keep the BG low to 120 mg/dl, by morn. I also take a herbal concotion on an empty stomoch, every morn.

Thank you all, for the patience.
Diwakar.

Holy smokes...I know I'm in pain and having to adjust my normal strong gait to a shuffle to accomodate the achilles tendon soreness and other neuropathy pains shooting through my feet, but so far no open sores or other gangrene-type of ailments. Definitely not looking forward to anything like that, although I can see where it could happen if I expose the feet to any dangers of puncture or cuts...
Diwakar, I hope you are currently under the care of a really good podiatrist, with lots of experience in Diabetic podiatry...my heart goes out to you, and I hope it clears up for you with the right treatment...
jbmcomber, thanks for the advice, I think it's solid, and am going to email my Doctor at Kaiser and request a referral visit to a recommended Podiatrist....
The recurring theme here seems to be exercise, and I guess I know this, and have known it for quite some time...just have always gotten my physical activity from the jobs I've had, and the job I've had for the last 15 years and hope to retire from in another 6 years is mostly a desk/dispatching job, not much strenuous activity at all...all brain-work, hardly any muscle involvement.
Guess I'd better figure out in a hurry what I can still do, as walking, like I say, has become a real tough chore...
Thanks for the listen/advice, folks!
Tim

[jlg43]

Timmerz: I am a 69 yr old Type II since 1989. On oral medication and 1800 cal a day diet. Also take 2 blood pressure meds, and a pain pill(tramadol). I apparently went undiagnosed for a long time because leg/foot pain was one of my "complaints" before being diagnosed. Heel pain is particularly bad and the pain pill doesn't entirely get rid of it. It does; as you say, feel like you're walking on foot bones directly. It contributes to an unsteady gait and I use a cane most of the time. Added to that it seems theigh muscles are weaker than they used to be. also, for me, maintaining body weight is a problem, for some reason I can drop 5 lbs or so due to flu or whatever and it takes forever to regain it. I am 5'9" 146 lbs at present; and would like to be around 155 or so.

[NoraWI]

To those complaining of diabetic complications of the feet, you NEED to get and keep your blood glucose levels lower... much lower! Doesn't matter how you do it, DO it!

jlg43, from your description, it sounds to me as though you are Type 1/LADA. You should be on insulin. Ask your doctor ASAP. If your doctor doesn't agree, find a new doctor.

Timmerz, if your feet feel as though you are walking on bone, you may be. Google "diabetic feet" and you will find that there is such a thing as disappearing muscles in the feet.

Diwakar, you have BIG problems with your feet and legs... diabetic problems due to long term uncontrolled blood glucose levels. Your vegetarian diet may be mandated by your religion but it is terrible for controlling diabetes. Gangrene is the final step before amputation!

[itisnotfair]

Your vegetarian diet may be mandated by your religion but it is terrible for controlling diabetes. Gangrene is the final step before amputation!

Just a quick follow-up question, I am on vegetarian diet as well and wanted to seek further clarification, can you please elaborate a bit on the affects of having vegetarian diet on diabetes? What do you suggest? Appreciate your response.

[NoraWI]

Diabetes involves problems processing carbohydrates. A vegetarian diet is all carbohydrates. Not to say that there aren't vegetarians who do a decent job of controlling their diabetes. I will let one of them tell you how they accomplish that task.

[Hooterville]

Agree with Nora. Nothing is more important to both of you than having blood glucose as normal as humanly possible. Do that and get whatever exercise you can as your condition allows. Find time, make time.

[timmerz]

Agree with Nora. Nothing is more important to both of you than having blood glucose as normal as humanly possible. Do that and get whatever exercise you can as your condition allows. Find time, make time.

Yep, checking bg as we type....started checking it 6 or 7 times a day....also got a prescription for Gabapentin 400mg that seems to be doing an ok job along with 2 Aleve a day...at least things are bearable so I can start doing something about being out of shape...still there, if I concentrate I can feel the pain lurking, but it's manageable now...time to break out the Gazelle and get started...LOL!

edit: Hmmmm, 123...not too bad as an after-dinner reading, means the before-dinner shot was pretty accurate....

[Mike M]

This thread reminds me most vividly why I am so thankful I found this forum right after DX AND heeded advice eating to my meter getting and maintaining good BG control. And reminds me not to become complacent!