neuropathy

[John1922]

I was told today I have diabetic neuropathy on the very tip of my big toes. I'm a 64-year-old male. Is it anything to worry about, and can it be reverted?

[Collywobbles64]

Try changing your diet. I have heard people reversing their neuropathy by cutting sugars and vegetable oils from their diet. I have a burning sensation in my arm and am trying it. Not a quick fix though. Eat more fatty red meat as it provides nutrition.

[John1922 in reply to Collywobbles64]

I do eat more filet steak have done for a while but i am always looking for something to snack on

[Collywobbles64 in reply to John1922]

I am trying to eat more and do not snack, but as many problems that I do have diabetes is not one of them. Dr David Unwin at Northwood surgery in the north west has had great success with the low carb diet and diabetes.

[John1922 in reply to Collywobbles64]

I have no luck with anything and have 98 problems, and all my family have type 2. this picture was what the nurse added to my records no mention feet problems so im confused

results

[bookish in reply to Collywobbles64]

Red meat is good but you do have to be able to digest it to get the nutrients and many of us are not good at that as we don't have enough acid. Have you had your vit B12 checked recently? Cheers

[John1922 in reply to bookish]

Think so yes and i have plenty of acid mine the really bad gallstones over 30 years and a hiatus hernia for over 30 also

[bookish in reply to John1922]

Best to get a copy of the result so you know what your serum B12 is, as a baseline. If you have 'plenty of acid' - reflux?, that is commonly due to too little acid, not too much. Are you taking a PPI? If so, even more likely to need B12. Cheers

[Collywobbles64]

I take b12 and HCl when I eat meat.

[John1922 in reply to Collywobbles64]

Can i ask why?

[Collywobbles64 in reply to John1922]

The b12 is to see if it affects my energy levels and the hcl is to increase my stomach acid when eating a heavy meat meal.

[bookish in reply to Collywobbles64]

It is likely that if you need the additional acid to digest meat that you have insufficient acid and intrinsic factor to absorb B12 'normally'. The gastric parietal cells are responsible for producing both. Oral/sublingual etc B12 can raise the serum level but without necessarily getting enough B12 to the cells - it is a long and complex process. B12 injections are the only sure way to deal with deficiency. For some, oral doesn't raise the serum level either, but for most it will even if it isn't really working. I took oral etc for many years, in increasingly high doses, but neuropathy slowly got worse. When a GP suggested a trial of injections my serum was over the top of the range from oral supplements, but injections still made a huge difference and I now get them regularly. No longer getting worse, but gradually getting better! You could ask for a serum B12 test, plus folate and a full blood count (MCV and RDW may show high in deficiency), but point out that you've been taking oral. It is likely that your GP may not know that B12 in blood does not equal B12 in cells and able to do its job, but some of them do now understand a little more. Ask for a trial of injections and note what happens. You may feel worse initially as the nerves come back to life and heal, but you may also get more energy quite quickly.

[John1922 in reply to bookish]

Thanks will ask my doctor but i do see they do B12 on my records

[bookish in reply to John1922]

It is worth doing, but be aware that many doctors consider that anywhere 'in range' is ok - and it may well not be ok for you. Quote 'A hiatal hernia can indirectly impact Vitamin B12 levels due to potential interference with absorption. The presence of a hiatal hernia can disrupt the normal digestive process, which may affect the body's ability to absorb B12 effectively. Additionally, long-term use of medications, like proton pump inhibitors, often prescribed for hiatal hernias, can also contribute to B12 deficiency.' You clearly have an issue somewhere else you wouldn't have the gallstones. There are so many processes for B12 to go through, any of them could be struggling, and blood tests cannot show them all as those tests do not exist. That is why the only way to know if B12 can or can't help is to have a trial of injections.