As I have stated in other posts my mom was just diagnosed. She suffers from neuropathy in her feet. We can't get a straight answer from her if this is directly linked to the diabetes. If anyone has any information on this I would really appreciate it. She hasn't driven in months because she doesn't have a whole lot of feeling in her feet. It would be just too dangerous for her to be driving. She also has trouble walking and has been using a cane lately. She is unsteady and walks very slowly. Does anybody know if the neuropathy will get better as her diabetes improves? She has also been depressed as well and is on medication for that. The dr. said as the depression improves the feet will improve but I tend to think it is also related to the diabetes.

I've never heard of this. Can you explain more of the symptoms? There may be people that have this that just don't know what it is. Is it just the loss of feeling and the unsteadiness, or are there other symptoms as well?

neuropathy is the distingration of the meylin sheath that insulates the nerve.
Think of it like this. You have a cord that goes to a lamp. Now imagine if that cord was chewed by a mouse. You would have exposed wires. And you woudl get a shock if you touched it.
Well neuropathy is the same way. These exposed wires are constant firing and damaging the surrunding tissues.

yes neuropathy comes form diabetes that for some reason is not contrtolled. Since meylin sheaths ind neurological insulation is a type of fat that is easily used. So keotisis eats away.
BTW Ketones are like nail polish remover. Both are acetone. And imagine what acetone does to certain fabrics nad finishes, this same things happens to the body.
being as nereve insulation is delicate its the first to go.

the godo news is Yes.. if her blodo sugars can be maintianed in the low 130smg/dl neuropathy an be abated.
Now teh question becomes is she willing to adjust medication and diet to acomplsih it.
If she is she can expect with a week neuropathic tinging, numbness and cold spots to begin to be alleviated. The tighter the control the quicker the heal.
Then after a while she can tell if her BGs are out of control by the feelings of neuropathy coming back.

Hello all, I was just diagnosed with type II yesterday and I also have neuropathy.

When I went for the nerve testing, the Dr told me that in some cases neuropathy can show up as early as two years before a type II diagnosis. My feet problems were around almost six months before my GTT and A1C went over the line.

I am hoping the neuopathy will go away or at least subside a bit once I get my BSL down to a normal level.

My problem is that my feet have so much numbness that I can't tell if I am standing on a piece of ice or a red hot coal. It does cause problems when I walk but I just keep close to the walls and slow down.

You can get peripheral neuropathy in your feet from diabetes and it sounds as if that's what you Mom has. It comes from the nerve damage because of bad blood glucose control and the lack of circulation.

It has been known to improve as the blood sugar begins to get under control. That's something to aim at, but I can understand why your mom's depressed. It really is painful and when you either can't feel anything, or your feet become a ball of pins and needles, it's a constant discomfort that can keep you miserable and up at night too.

Maybe your doc is hoping that, as your mother's mood rises and she begins to get under control, her feet will also respond. So that's also possible.

Get nice warm thick socks for Mom and a really good pair of shoes that don't rub her feet. Volunteer to look at her feet a lot to make sure she didn't step on something and hurt her foot without knowing it.

Peripheral neuropathy isn't pleasant. Give your Mom a hug for me.

REad the JImmysdevoted post back in 2007 in this thread............ it explains what is happening in neuropathy.

Now as to anyone else having it, yup I do, and at times its real bad, like yesterday, I could hardly walk and they were burning, hurting. It was awful.
It was one of teh firstthings to alleviate when I take ashot of insulin. that was one thing that orals and diet did not get rid of.
ONly insulin R gets rid of it.
I use it now as an indicator when my food intake is wrong or a product has hidden carb.

Diabetic socks are great. they cushion real well. The new crocks shoes are wondefrul cushy and soft!

You can choose to help her by buying these things and leave them around for her to try and get rid of all the high carb stuff in the house........
Instead of tryingt o get her to admit it, take control and admit it for her that she has diabetic complications...........

coming form along line of diabetics who were both proactive and passive and in denial, i like it when someone else becomes proactive and takes control.......