my feet and hands

hi, just a quick question, I have been diabetic for 17 years on pump for 8 (still awaiting my DAFNE course to come thru!) my hands at night go numb if my arms are bent over (or not actually) but I don't seem to notice in the day time, also my feet feel like they are stuck in a size smaller shoes, my control over the years has been up and down (last hb1c was 65?) which is just in the "poor" area, I am sick with worry about all this and im not coping with it at all to be honest, I have started to really up my game with my sugars but is there any hope that nerves can get better? all I have been told is to get better control, feeling a bit lost to be honest can anyone suggest or let me know if they have had the same syptoms

Hi Shazell,

Yep my hands and feet give me grief. Been a diabetic for nearly 40 years. I do believe that if you can reign in your HbA1c the situation will/may improve. My feet (actually) calves feel as if they have a tight sock on them all the time (it is not painful…just a sensation, day and night) and my hands/arms are most comfortable at night if I lie crucifixion style. This started during an unbelievably traumatic time in my life but has significantly been brought to the manageable state where I am now.

All the best…good luck with your DAFNE course as it will teach you much more about management than you anticipate.

Helen

Shazell…a post script.

A couple of years ago I took my bothersome hands to my GP. He thought the numbness etc that I was describing was carpal tunnel. I was referred to a hand surgeon. His assessment was that there was certainly some carpal tunnel involvement but he was unable to put a percentage on it (50% carpal tunnel/50% diabetic neuropathy?). We tried a splint at night but eventually I decided that I would try the surgery (both my mother and younger sister had had similar surgery). Over a couple on months I had surgery on both wrists. My hands are certainly better but I think the surgeon was right…maybe 60-70% carpal tunnel the rest neuropathy. The numbness has gone but my wrists ache etc if I do not keep them extended at night. Occasionally wear a splint to keep them in a good position if they are really bothering me.

Helen

Hi Thank you for your reply HelenP 40 years is a bloody long time! has this been a recent problem with your hands and feet? My doctor isn't to helpful really, he just said to get tighter control! and all im thinking is (obviously im trying a lot harder to keep a better control) but do I just leave my hands and feet or do I push for something to be done? or wait till its unbearable? I find it so frustrating as I do realise the better control = better health, I think im just in panic mode to be honest and my diabetic nurse is in the middle of moving so all appointments have been canceled? its so scary, and wearing splints must be horrendous and to be honest I used to do care work and cared for a man who had the carpal tunnel done on his hands and that looked very invasive? Thanks again Helen

Shazell,

The splints were not bad and they did/do enable me to sleep through the night. The surgeon did say that they were not a permanent solution but that they may help. When my hands started to to go numb during the day I sought surgery.

The carpal tunnel done here in Australia is not bad. It is surgery (GA) and I do have two 1cm scars but my hands are better (not numb). I came home in the early afternoon having had the surgery done at 8:00am. Hand is wrapped as if it has a boxing glove on but three days later that comes off and you are left with a manageable "wound covering'. There was some physiotherapy involved but I would say I now have full movement …although my hand strength is reduced.

You have to try and work out what is the cause and unless they can shoot the numbness back to carpal tunnel the surgery will not be the answer.

Keep at it ...diabetes is a marathon!

Helen

shazell, welcome
Talk to your GP and they can refer you to a local consultant for examination and, if they consider it appropriate, carry out nerve conduction tests to determine quite how affected you are.
As HelenP mentions, the surgery is not dramatic. I've had both hands done...I'm afraid it is down to one of the effects of long term Type 1 as nerve and tendon sheaths thicken over time, constraining the nerve bundle.
Regards
Garry

Hi Shazell,
I would agree with Garry regarding your hands. It can sometimes be difficult to determine whether your symptoms are due to carpal tunnel syndrome or diabetic peripheral neuropathy but nerve conduction studies ,if considered appropriate by your GP can help to get the diagnosis right. I think the lower limb symptoms are more likely to be due to diabetic neuropathy. There are various treatments available that can ease tge symptoms of peripheral neuropathy including oral medication and topical applications ( i.e. creams) based on capsaicin which can help. It is truethat tight glycaemic control can help but it takes months rather than weeks to show benefit so one has to be very patient.
I have had type 1 diabetes for 47 years and have been on a pump for nearly 2 years. My control was brilliant for over 40 years and only started to become brittle in the past few years for no apparent reason. I used to work as a GP with a particular interest in diabetes but had to retire because of problems in diabetes control. I am no longer registered so am not qualified to give official advice but this is just given as a fellow patient.
I do hope you are able to obtain some help from your GP or local diabetes clinic.
Best wishes,

Thank you all for replying, stephenbrowne, thank you too, Im at the moment in the process of trying to find anthor doctors, all I have been told about my hands and feet is to get better control! and to maybe up my insulin 2 units!! (that's all they say, every time I go as my Hb1c is normally around 65! (just in the "poor" area) my diabetic tteam at the hospital are in the middle of moving offices and have canceled my app and cannot give me a date yet for a new app! I was also told today by email, that the fact I have been diabetic for 17 years and not been on a course of any sort was because I live out of the area! Right now I have no support, maybe in a few weeks I will, and to be honest that's why I came on here, its very lovely to hear from diabetics that have putting up with this for 40 years!! I don't think ill make that! Im just trying to get as much information as I can to arm myself as I feel that's the only way, nobody else is going to do it for me, so thank you all for your support, and suggestions atleast now I have something to go on (creams) and names ie peripheral neuropathy thanks again

Shazell,

There is a heap of support available on this site and most comes from people who have been there, done that!
Stay in touch. Helen