Although I have not been diagnosed with T2D, I have periodically had circulation issues, especially with the feet.

I come from a long paternal line of people with "sugar diabetes." Yes, that's what Texans called it when I was growing up. You got old, you got fat and you got IT. Although my own Pater was never diabetic, he had excruciating, burning pain in his feet long before it had the name. All the doctor could do for him was give him Oxy for the pain, which resulted eventually in dementia, followed by death.

Because of this history, I am super sensitive to my feet, how they feel. I never want to experience what my daddy did, and I have several tools I use to make sure my circulation keeps moving, so to speak.

I'm starting this thread so that we can share the various things we do and supplements we take which we feel serve us well in combating peripheral neuropathy, no matter what stage.

What I do to promote better circulation:

1. I walk at a pretty brisk pace for at least 2 miles to start the day, even before coffee. I'm in my 3rd year of the walking regime.
   
2. I use a Sunny Health & Fitness Foot Massager - electric and pretty costly, but is worth it for me to get those moving knobs into the bottom of my foot. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...e?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I've been using this off and on since I bought it in 2010.
   
3. When I bathe, I use a natural hemp back and body scrubber and mitt, which is durable and machine washable. I start at the bottom of the foot and toes and work my way up each leg, brushing. Then I do my hands and arms. The back scrubber is self evident. It feels so GOOD.
   
4. My most recent addition is a mini trampoline. My feet don't leave the surface. I just engage in gentle up-and-down-motion, first with both feet, then (while using the other foot for balance) each foot individually. I do this for two reasons: developing good balance and to strengthen the tiny muscles in each ankle. I believe this will keep me from risking sprains and breaks.
   **********The added benefit I've gotten from this is that the morning stiffness in my fingers is gone.

Elevate your feet above your heart to increase circulation.

My feet are fine, but I have had pain, burning and tingling in the fingers of my left hand since undergoing surgery for a broken wrist two weeks ago. I do try to keep my arm elevated but not always easy to do! Other than that I mostly just massage my fingers. I hope this is only temporary, possible nerve irritation due to the surgery.

Debbie, it should only be temporary. When I had to have sugery to fix my broken collar bone, first my shoulder was numb. Then as it healed, I had fiery, shooting pains, so much so that I wanted it to go back to being numb. Doc said they had to cut a nerve and the pain meant it was regenerating. First we tried a goo from a compounding pharmacy (gabapentin and capsacin and ???), but too messy. Doc then gave me some numbing patches, I can't remember the name. They helped tremendously. The pains gradually lessened, were less frequent. I eventually got almost all of the feeling back. Good luck in your healing!

I can't imagine having that kind of pain over a larger area like Robin!

yes, my expectation is that it will be temporary. already some improvement. right after surgery all five fingers were numb, tingly, fiery. it improved from outward in-first thumb and pinky felt better, then index and ring fingers. now it's just mt middle finger which so far refuses to show any sign of improvement. still totally swollen and unbending, and numb, thobbing, on fire.

so of course i feel like a jerk. 99.9% of me feels perfectly fine and only one finger is an issue, though enough to keep me from getting decent sleep. i can't even imagine the ordeal robin went through!

Neochrone- so glad you are in recovery. I know the "chemo shuffle." For guillan barre, there is a weird little dancing movement you notice as a person recovers- the person can't feel the floor, so the food is dropped ball heel ball heel, to avoid injuring heel by slamming it hard against the ground.....

chichynea- i find the B1 more important than the B12, but i take both everyday. i find i get flare ups if i run out, so i don;t run out anymore! And yes, the yoga and balance work is great.

Merpig- thank you, but really i was just happy that i was in the BEST hospital with doctors who would protect me. It was just so scary to suddenly have all these things to rule out- stroke, MS, lime disease, brain hemmoraging....when they figured out it was GBS and 80% make a full recovery, it sounded great, compared to some other choices
Glad you are starting to recover. I used to really try and talk to myself, when the pain kicked in like you are describing. I used breath exercises at really bad times- have you tried any? They help me cope with any stressful situation, so i don't get overwhelmed.
My routine was fill bucket with warm water, check temp, place feet in (or in your case hand). practice breath exercise for several minutes. then massage area. (and usually take gabapentim).

Bonnie- overuse is a huge trigger for me, too. I have found i can do pretty punishing distances on race day, but expect a lot of pain the next day. i would not routinely train that hard anymore. Still, i can log regular moderate excercise. i just have to be mindful to avoid concrete, not run, or jump, and give myself approriate rest/recovery.

Is toe cramping considered a sign of neuropathy?

I believe, from all I've read, that the symptoms are varied. My feet, for example, burned slightly on the outside edge of the sole. This was some 10 years ago and intermittent.

Here is a link (one of many available.)

All my other symptoms come and go, but that makes sense to me, as the circulatory system could be the culprit in my case, not nerve damage. I have to factor in my age. I'm more concerned in keeping things moving than knowing exactly what is causing the problem.

Thank you for starting this thread! I have found "my people" .

For those who don't "know me" here, I am young- but have had type I diabetes for 24 years. I have maintained excellent control of my blood sugar with 2 brief periods of loss of control (starting college and going through a divorce, that was complete shock of my life).

I have experienced TERRIBLE neuropathy, but not from diabetes. Almost 2 years ago, i was on top of the world. I had just competed in the world's championship of my sport (I didn't even finish the race, but hey, i still went!)....when the next thing i knew just a month later, I collapsed outside my apartment unable to walk.
I had contracted guillain barre syndrome- a neurological disorder where the autoimmune system attacks the mylein sheath of the body's nerves. patients become paralyzed and it typically lasts 6-12 months. 80 percent recover, 20 percent will be paralyzed permanently or die.
I was very lucky to have a "mild case" and went from only able to walk 1 mile in 1/4 mile increments at 5 months out, to completing a 14 mile trail race up and down a mountain at 6 months

As the nerves "wake back up" the numbness became excrutiating burning fire and ice. For the initial serious part, i was prescribed oxies, but soon was able to get by with large doses of gabapentim. it is a great drug for nerve pain, and it is non habit forming and unless you take a TON, it doesn't make you too out of it to function.

Now my nerves have mostly healed, and i oly experience it when my feet get cold or from overuse.

things my Dr has me do:
1. take gabapentim when needed
2. take B1 and B12 to keep it at bay! I take both daily.
3. keep my feet warm! massage them when cold or numb. wear big socks and slippers, if my husband has AC on too high for me.
4. NEVER walk barefoot on sand- Dr worries i could burn my feet, without knowing i am doing it.
5. very, very sadly- i had to stop running. the stress from landing flares it terribly and the numbness makes it dangerous. i do still enjoy long walks, and hiking, and occasional mountain trail racing- i just walk them....
i also enjoy yoga to help with balance issues.
and i enjoy strength training to work on rebuilding the muscle tissue that was wasted from my body.

looking forward to hearing what has helped everyone!

Something I have read, if circulation is of concern, vitamin E really helps thin the blood. If fact if someone is going for surgery they are advised to stop taking vitamin E.

ps So glad you recovered so well Robin!!

Robin, only those who have witnessed such pain or experienced it themselves can even come close to understanding the experience. You have my sympathy, but also my respect. I don't know how you did it. It's good to know that there is another drug for the pain, but I'm so strictly against meds (for my own use) that it will have to get really bad for me to use. I try to practice lifestyle medicine. The LCHF WOE helps.

When I started rebounding, I just wanted to massage my lymph system. The added benefits have been "gravy." Are you able to use an electric foot massager, or are your nerves too damaged?

Compared to you, my issues are minimal, but I'm doing all I can to keep them that way.

I had peripheral neuropathy for about a year, induced by the chemotherapy drugs I was taking (CIPN). My feet were about 90% affected at its worst; hands not so bad. I had a lot of trouble walking - I did the 'chemo shuffle'. It took at least six months to improve after I finished the chemo. Now its confined to a little numbness in my middle toes, and I can walk normally again. My hands, although not so much affected, were extremely painful. I used to plunge them into a bowl of warm water for relief! Its hard to explain to someone who has not experienced it though: numbness + pain seems like a contradiction.

I was one of the lucky ones. A lot of cancer survivors have permanent damage.

Thank you, Bluesinger <3 And so glad you are being proactive and holistic in your own future health!
When i first sick, I did not use any massage device. The pain was just excrutiating. Even those neuro tests where they mildly buzz you with the metal thing made tears spring up. Trying to get through those appointments, with my mom too upset to leave my side in the hospital room, so trying desperately not to cry, was one of the harder things i have ever had to do.
But i was happy- because at least i WAS feeling things again. when it first started and i could see people touching me, while i felt nothing was truly terrifying.
Now, I am so well recovered i have not looked into those massagers. i just manually massage my feet when they flare, or use a bucket of warm water (i check temperature on my forearm!!!!). I am guessing you feel like they are a good option? i am worried, now that winter will be approaching before we know it!
That reminds me- i also invested in really good, plush boots. It might seem silly to wear Sorrell's in DC, but it makes a huge difference for me, and then i just change into normal footwear when i arrive at work.

It is much easier to be "proactive and holistic" when the condition is slight. When I first became aware of anything with my feet, it was that slight burn along the outside edge of the sole. Lots of people might not have noticed, but because of my father, I'm hyper vigilant.

That particular machine has an infrared heating option built in. Doesn't get really hot, but is supposed to encourage circulation to the area, and that is my objective. There are nobs that stick out and vibration, too. It allows the user to choose how long and how vigorous the massage is. If I feel that I need extra circulatory help, I get out that machine. Don't use it every day, but, remember, it doesn't hurt me. If it did, I would think maybe I shouldn't be using it. Does that make sense?