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• March 29, 2012 8:14 a.m.

  Lois: As Nancy wrote: "Blood sugar control is the key to preventing or slowing the development of diabetic neuropathy. Is your blood sugar high? We recommend that you work with your health care team to get your blood glucose under control.

  - Nancy and Peggy

• March 27, 2012 7:53 a.m.

  I recommend the book to all "NO More Heart Disease" by Dr Lou Ignarro. As a wellness coach I know that Nitric Oxide (NO), something our bodies can create, helps with neuropathy. Check out this blog on Alpha-Lipoic acid an important antioxidant when it comes to neuropathy as well. http://myhealthyfortunes.blogspot.com/2012/03/neuropathy-and-alpha-lipoic-acid.html

  - Sheila

• March 22, 2012 11:44 p.m.

  Well, I have diabetes and my symptoms are neurophathy. I had the numbness in my right foot for about a year or so. I thought that blood was building up in my toes making it sore. So I asked the Doctors was it blood trying to squeez out of my toes. This is when I found out that it was just like my mothers symptoms Then I started to get the numbness in my legs a couple fingers. I just got the numbness in my left leg about two weeks ago very painful. How do I stop this from getting worse? My husband is diabetic also and he doesn't have the symptoms that I do. I love sweets do I really have to give up sweets to change the effects of this disease?

  - Lois

• March 5, 2012 2:04 p.m.

  march 5, 2012 I was diagnosed with Diabetes in May of 2010. In June I lost half of my left big toe. My feet have hurt for years but lately the pain has become so bad and my quality of life so bad some days I just want to die. I have very little health insurance Nuerotin doesn't work what does

  - diana

• January 6, 2012 4:23 a.m.

  I have had severe foot and leg pain that wakes me up every night for the past year. I have to get up and walk on the cold kitchen floor to get some relief, and even then it doesn't take all the pain away. I have been diagnosed with neuopathy, and am currently being teated with pain killers. However they only last 4 hrs, leading to broken sleep and fatigue during the day. i am currently seeking a pain management clinic to help control the pain. It has gotten progessivly worse over the past year to the point I'm willing to try anything for relief. I'm already taking Lyrica,however it has been losing it's effectivness lately. Pain pills have been helpful but only for about 4 hrs. I need help!

  - shelley

• January 4, 2012 1:58 a.m.

  I am sixty years old and have type II diabetes. I never had neuropathy until I went through cisplatin and etoposide chemotherapy for testicular cancer last year. After the final course of chemo the neuropathy became excruciating. Then found out I have spinal deterioration also made worse by cisplatin. Neurontin doesn't seem to make things much better. I use Lidoderm patches on my lower back which helps. I am thankful that the cancer has been in remission for a year!

  - Mike

• November 22, 2011 8:31 p.m.

  my nerve sensations are much worse in the afternoon and evening than during the morning . i have lost weight, i watch my diet, but it seems that no matter what i eat, i still have the sensations. it is discouraging to me that nothing seems to change by losing the weight and changing my diet. help...does anyone have something to offer....walking helps change the sensations but sometimes walking makes it worse. i don't use medications that are offered because i had rather take the sensations than use the meds.

  - william

• November 7, 2011 10:10 p.m.

  i have had diabetes type 1 for 50 yrs. take 5 shots a day and a1c is 7.5 to 8. cant sleep at night because my upper arms hurt down to my wrists. taking 150 sulindac (clinoril) once a day and sometimes advil pm, but dr does not want me to take advil because of kidneys. dont know what will work and dont think drs. really know how much pain i am in. its been ten years now of pain and i sure wish i knew what i could take. i was always active but now cant do much without a lot of pain at night. dont even know if this is neuropathy, or some kinda deficiency.

  - suzanne

• October 26, 2011 8:10 p.m.

  Hello, Ive had the t1 diabetes for 39 years,I am 44 at the moment. Growing up with this, I was always active in sports,staying in good physical condition with good health into my adult life. When the 35 year mark, I had started to get neuropathy symptoms, Now at this time, I have experienced alot of severe pain from feet to the backside of the upper arms, I do believe the worst problem I just dont like to deal with is the head and neck sweating during meals,when I even smell food break out into a sweat, this has caused me to lower my food intake some. In turn have lost some weight, I'm not a big man what-so- ever,maintained the same weight bracket for over 25 years. 135 now 126 ,trying to get back the weight,yet, hard to do.

  - jd

• October 5, 2011 2:55 a.m.

  Hi, I am 65 and determined to get rid of my neuropathy and sciatica. About 5-6 months ago my podiatrist put me on Metanx--it controls the burning. Vitamin B12 (1000 mg) also seems to help. Capasin roll-on ointment gives some relief. I am working my way up to 900 mg of Neurontin at the moment, too. It did seems to help in the past. Sometimes ice baths provide relief. I sleep with socks on to keep my feet warm for circulation reasons. For the sciatica I have had one cortisone shot of three, and the first one helped two days with my back. I have to use a cane a bit right now. Oh, my A1c is perfectly controlled at 5.7, so I do not understand all my problems. Not really overweight, either!!

  - Linda

• September 7, 2011 6:37 p.m.

  I am a 54 year old with type 2 diabetes. I was diagnosed because of the awful neuropathy in my feet. I have been taking neurotin and it helps some. My blood sugar is uner control now (5.7). I noticed some nights having terrible pain, others not so much, and figured it must be environmental. When I quit eating peanuts things got a lot better - until I ate some chicken wings fried in ... peanut oil. That night was awful. Stopping that has made my life a lot better - still some pain but a LOT less. Not using a cane any more. No idea if this will help anyone else.

  - Dave

• August 30, 2011 3:14 p.m.

  my feet were bothering me so bad at night that i screwed a bookcase to the head board so my feet would be off the end of the bed. I smacked my head twice and drew blood so i turned the bookcase around and stapled 2 pillows to it. It does help and i am getting use to it.

  - jeff

• July 23, 2011 11:01 a.m.

  My 63 yr old mom has had diabetes since 1998. About 4 yrs ago she started with numbness in her foot and it slowly progressed up the entire right side of her body...she went from cane to walker to wheelchair (she declined quickly since Jan. 11) to basically being unable to take care of herself. The kicker is she still hasn't been diagnosed with neuropathy. Testing by every kind of doctor (neurologist is now thinking all this is from diabetes, seriously!!)I can think of has and is still being done, with a nerve/muscle test next. Her diabetes is out of control and she's fading fast. With control of this disease, I am wondering if she would be able to gain any of the quality of life she had before.

  - No name given

• July 3, 2011 8:41 p.m.

  recently diagnosed with type 2 a1c were 13. my feet were tingly but not painful My a1c 3 months later were 6.8. however, the foot pain is much worse now, especially at nite. will this pain subside now that my sugar levels are controlled? seems it getting worse

  - mary

• June 24, 2011 2:46 a.m.

  I was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes in 1998 and am now told I have Diabetic Neuropathy. However the symptoms don't seem to fit. Both my legs, both feet, and my hips tingle when I lay down, but at no other time, and there is no pain at all. Also, the side I lay on seems to tingle more that the other slightly. From what I have been reading it sounds like something else to me. My Internist and a Podiatrist both diagnosed me with out doing any tests or real exams. Once I mentioned Diabetes, I was diagnosed with Diabetic Neuropathy. I would like to know if there are any tests that would confirm Diabetic Neuropathy, or rule it out? I'd like once and for all to find out the cause of this problem, and treat it if possible. I have had 2 back surgeries, 2 & 10 years ago, for sciatica and both helped but were not totally successful. I still have problems, but the tingling just started about 2 months ago. Problem is, they won't consider my back being the cause, or anything else, because they've already diagnosed me with Diabetic Neuropathy! Thank You for your help!

  - Frank

• May 14, 2011 10:16 p.m.

  My blood sugar levels appear to be normal, but I seem to have many symptoms that could be considered with diabetes: left leg circulation very bad and painful, blindness when the lights go out, dry skin (hands and face), excessive thirstiness, and constant yeast infections. Is there anything else I can do to find out what might be causing this? My doctor seems to just disregard everything I tell her.

  - RAS

• April 23, 2011 12:26 a.m.

  Does soaking Feet in epson salts with hot water relieve pain from neuropathy. Could this be healing also

  - David

• March 11, 2011 10:12 p.m.

  Just posted about our granddaughter ..she was diagnosed at 3yr. with Type 1 diabetes and is now 9 1/2

  - Kathleen

• March 11, 2011 10:06 p.m.

  Can you please tell me if it is possible for a 9 1/2 year old to develop diabetic neuropathy? Our granddaugter has been having bad pain in arms and legs recently.

  - Kathleen

• December 16, 2010 2:56 a.m.

  my toes feel like broken glass from neuropathy from type 2 diabetes.medical marajuana helps me indure the pain.honestly i can't say that it decreases my pain physically or from a altered mental state,but it definitely gives me relief from my pain.

  - james

• October 17, 2010 9:25 a.m.

  I am diabetic type I for over 50 yrs. I have developed the most excruiating pain in my right ring finger. My MD says its a combination of neuropathy and nerve damage frost bite from 40 yrs ago. Three nerve blocks: no relief. Gabapentin: no relief. Niacin 250 mg: no relief. Please: anyone out there with a suggestion, write to me....

  - Karen

• September 15, 2010 12:24 p.m.

  I too have such pain in my feet that I walk on a cold floor just to maybe help stop the burning. I take 800mg 4x a day and I still cannot go to the grocery store. It is everywhere. Including my face. Is there a vitamin that I can take to help the nerves. thanks, elaine

  - Elaine

• August 24, 2010 11:45 p.m.

  I have been a type 1 diabetic for 38 years and have had neuropathy for about 8-10 years. Started with the numbness in my feet and progressed up to just above my knees. My doctors at Mayo put me on Neurontin and my local doctors have increased the dosage to now 300mg three times a day. That seems to take the edge off for now but as with most everyone else I have many nights I don't sleep when the stabbing pain starts in my feet. Because of the many years with the neuropathy I developed Charcot's foot and a couple of the bones in my right foot are malformed. I haven't talked to my doctors yet about any pain meds but I am getting to the point I'm going to have to go that route pretty quick. The joys of diabetes -- but I'm still kicking so I can't complain too much -- I should follow that up with the word YET.

  - Gary

• August 3, 2010 6:10 a.m.

  I have been a diabetic for 20 + years. I remember when I was about 17-23 age I became aware of my condition and finally diagnosed approx 23 years old. My father was type 2 and for years he would walk for what seemed 3 hours a night every night because he couldn't sleep and he eventually had to sleep away from my mom in a separate room as to not disturb her. I did not fully comprehend the impact of neuropathy until I got it myself. When my dad died suddenly from a diabetic complication, I wish now that I could have talked with him about it. I now know from hindsight and my fight with this illness that he had to sleep almost the entire weekend away so he could keep awake at his job, a very high clearance Naval career that he was so dedicated to. My experience with neuropathy has taught me some painful lessons. Prevention (PN) is possible but not a guarantee. Diabetic BS control is absolute and should stave off the eventual neuropathy, but my point here is if I could not comprehend his pain, imagine how hard it can be to understand this incredibly complex symptom in a hospital setting such as ketoacidosis which somehow seems to make the neuropathy so bad that I honestly wished/bargained in my mind to have my legs taken. I had pain from my wrists to my acromial area feel like my "funny bone" was permanently on etc.

  - John

• July 31, 2010 5:19 a.m.

  I have been a diabetic for 10years and also suffer from diabetic neuropathy. I have endured the burning and stabbing pain in my feet and have found nothing that helps.. but this is just a warning about how inspection ofyour feet can save you. Recently, I was having increased pain around my sandal strap and on inspection saw a small black dot on the side of my big toe. It felt like a splinter and when I tweezed it I found that a misplaced sewing needle had pierced my big toe and lodged itself through my big toe and into my 2nd toe. Astounding.. that I felt no pain until my toe got infected and started to swell. ( The infection was severe and I almost lost my toe.) The moral of the story is .. wear your shoes or slippers ALL the time .. and inspect your feet daily with a mirror to the bottom. While a sheet or carpet can feel like sandpaper, a needle or sharp object can go unnoticed. - Lois

  - Lois