I have been dealing with the same problem for a few years. I am taking Neurontin 600 mg three times a day. I also have numbness and tingling in my hands and fingers intermittingly. I wish I could tell you it will get better but unfortunately it won't.

Lynn

unfortunate that you are suffering with the same problem.

Up until about 10 months ago I didn't know a lot about this subject, however, when I married my wife is a Type II diabetic and I quickly became familiar with the condition and, as Billy asid, it feels like pins and needles particularly in your feet. Because of this and the resulting loss of sensation - both in the hands and feet - it is very easy for a diabetic to injure themselves and not know it until it's too late.

Walter

I started having some pain in my ankle and went to the doctor. He treated me for gout. Then a week later I was back since my foot turned black and blue below the ankle. He said since I have neuropathy I didn't know I had a bad sprained ankle and to keep it elevated for 4 to 6 weeks. Now how is someone supposed to do that. I contacted VA and they issued me a wheel chair to use. After the foot got better I started walking on it but every time i do it swells again. Slowly the pain is subsiding. Being a diabetic does have its problems.................

Billy

This problem with my ankle and continued since the end of September.
I have continued to be plagued with my ankle swelling and pain. The pain has started up the leg now to the knee and up the back part of my leg.

It is now january 10, After going to the ankle, foot specialist I was told my pain and problems were in the small vessels and capillaries. Nothing could be done about it. So I continue to have pain and swelling and if I go very far I have to use a wheel chair.

I do have another doctors appointment on January 17, 2007 for a back specialist to test my periperal neuropathy and see if it could be causing part of my problem. I think it could be effecting the sciatic nerve also, so I will have him test it too. Being a Diabetic has it's problems. I have been able to keep my blood sugar under control but I still have neuropathy, and glaucoma. The neuropathy meds I am on is Gabapentin, and the glaucoma drops are Travatan. My eyes are now becoming dark around my eyes as if I have mascarra on, and my lashes are growing longer and getting thicker. A side effect of the travatan. My eyes are already dark brown, if they were any other color the medicine would turn them brown too.

Billy wrote: I am a diabetic and I am starting to have numbing in my feet and hands. The doctors say it is called Peripheral neuropathy. It has started to make me lose my balance a lot since I don't know exactly where my feet are due to numbness. they also feel like bees are stinging my feet at night, and get very hot burning sensations. I am taking medicine for it, but the medicine I have been given is for epilepsy. Are there any others with diabetes that have this affliction?

Hi Billy,

I too am diabetic and have this problem. My doctors have never prescribed any medication specificallly for the neuropathy. My symptoms are not as varied as yours. The only problems I have is the numbness and the occasional stinging sensation which is mostly in my left foot. I had coronary bypass surgery in May of 2000 and they removed the vein in the lower part of my left leg and this may or may not be causing part of my problems.

The thing I want you to look out for is the tendency to drag either of your feet. I went through a spell several years ago where I was falling all the time. I ended up breaking my left shoulder in one of those falls. I saw a specialist and he discovered that I was dragging my left foot enough that it was tripping me up, especially on carpeted floors or when wearing shoes with rubbery soles. The doc's fix for this was simply to pay close attention when I walk to get that foot completely off the floor.

This diabetes is really the pitts isn't it.

Take care,
Linda

Mauryne wrote: i have it too but it is caused by the chemo i am on and its getting worse. Its so bad i cant walk really far anymore and have to use a scooter. I drop everything. Now i am getting stinging in my feet and toes that wakes me up. i am taking b6 but it doesnt help. if i tell my doc how bad it is he may stop my chemo and then my life is over the chemo is keeping the cancer stable any advise???? thanx guys and i sympathize with all of you i hurt myself all the time and dont even know it

Are you on medication for your neuropathy?? Both Gabapentin and Cymbalta help with the pain in your legs. Unfortunately I was told my Neuropathy was not reversible.

I am a diabetic and I am starting to have numbing in my feet and hands. The doctors say it is called Peripheral neuropathy. It has started to make me lose my balance a lot since I don't know exactly where my feet are due to numbness. they also feel like bees are stinging my feet at night, and get very hot burning sensations. I am taking medicine for it, but the medicine I have been given is for epilepsy. Are there any others with diabetes that have this affliction?

Mauryne wrote: i have been on b6 on that is it i am afraid if i make a big deal of it the doc might stop my chemo or lower the dose and it has been successful so i just suffer--bhut its getting harder to stand and to hold things.

Gabapentin and cymbalta are nerve meds. I would not think this would affect your chemo. In either case the doctor should be aware of what is going on with your body. Give him the opportunity to make that decision. That is why he is in practice for your best interest not his.