Toe Tinglies
First off - why is this wonderful, easy-to-access and free site used so infrequently?!? Posting stories, blog entries and photos is SO easy. Just click Create content, pick event, story or blog entry and you're off and running. Do it! We need to read about and see what active diabetics are doing. Winter is absolutely gorgeous so show us your adventures, your good style and how you personally jump through the diabetic hoops to get out there.
I'll start with some less-than-glamorous tales. My father died a month ago and, although I didn't realize the stress this had placed on my life, it obviously was significant. I've just had 3 months of what was probably the worst bg control in my 30 years of the Big D. I didn't feel stressed so didn't associate this with the piss poor bg control - both mistakes. In retrospect, I simply needed to test a lot more often, step back from myself and take a look at what should have been obvious. Apparently that was the last thing on my mind. Now that some time has passed, I'm putting things together that I wasn't able to connect earlier. Lesson learned: stress (particularly the type we're not aware of) and consistently high bg readings are definitely related.
Whether this is can be directly attributed to the crappy bg control or not, I've noticed something new that I'm not at all happy about - a tingly feeling between the 3rd and 4th toes on my R foot like a part of my sock is bunched up. After realizing the sock is where it's supposed to be and the tingly feeling still isn't gone after a full month, I've concluded this must be (gulp...) the humble beginning of neuropathy. Having gone 30 years without any hints of complications (eyes checked regularly, etc.), this irritates me to no end! I've not yet seen a doc to confirm this, but I don't know what else it might be either. Any ideas? Anyone had similar symptoms? Anyone able to reverse the symptom? I'm all ears.
Since my sad self-diagnosis, I've redoubled my efforts at bg control and things are now much more where I want them to be. I've managed to ski 20-25 days so far this season - mostly weekends - but my weekday activity level could still use some improvement. An A1c test in a few weeks should be telling....
What about all of you? Who's getting out there? We all need inspiration - tell us what's working for you.
Jeff
Just in the day and a half I have been a member on this site, I have noticed quite a few people reading, but very few posting. I totally agree with Jeff. I have been looking for so long for a place where I can learn about diabetes FROM DIABETICS... and not diabetics who sit on the couch and watch TV all weekend.... This is a golden opportunity for everyone here. I know I tend to get extremely busy between working full time, being a mom and wife, and trying to fit in as many outdoor activities as possible. But the information here is fantastic. Please post, and I will try to, as well!
Cheers!
Cat
Hey there Jeff.
A little hot pepper cream sounds almost delightful....Well, sorta. Sure, blame it on the ski boots - climbing shoes, other uncomforatble shoes. Good you are on top of it though.
All I can say about those shoulders is keep them moving and figure out some basic regular PT to keep them moving and strengthened in a sustainable way.
I have actually been using the sensors quite a bit (although I took one out yesterday and haven't replaced it yet) and have had some great runs (in terms of solid numbers and sensor life), also a few bad ones. I'm still totally struggling with tape issues. Have you used Hy-tape or what's also called the pink tape? I've been using just cloth tape (like the crap you tape up your hands for Devil's Tower) to cover the sensor and then the transmitter. I react to the adhesive and have beautiful red splotches. Just got back an A1C of 6.8 with almost no hypos. I hope to lower that, too.
We need some kind of project to look forward to....Got any suggestons?? I wonder if i will be ready to climb and haul a pack by July. I sure hope so.
Big hugs, dp
The pepper cream isn't quite the joy you might hope for... but it's not bad either. I've been mentally beating myself up over this "complication" thing lately. My A1c's have never been over 6.6 but on the other hand there's no getting around 30 years as an insulin junkie. For whatever reason, I seem to be having a lot more trouble staying in the range I shoot for. And way more "dead spots," absorption-wise. Anxious to get back to sensor-ing.
As to a summer project, I'll again toss out the idea of a traverse of 3 or 4 peaks in the southern Madison Range that I mentioned last year. The only technical climbing might be on Hilgard Peak ('though I think its barely 5.2, just exposed); but after that summit there are 2 or 3 more that would make for a great one-way trip. Would be gorgeous... Just an idea.
Jeff
The Madison Range sounds pretty damn good. What about a trip halfway between CO and MT, like the Winds? I am really thinking that if I get physically ready enough, that a trip deep into Titcomb basin with a little romp up the highest point of WY and other high points would be worthwhile. Then we could say that we did both MT and WY highpoints together? Plus, Doug had been whining about wanting to go to the Winds....I know it is a bit of a haul for you and him both, not to mention me. I don't even have a hall pass, yet. Leaving Thurs for CR! Looking forward.
http://train2gain.biz/My_Sahara_Stroll_2010/home.html
Jeff,
How strange you should mention this situation with your feet. I've been type 1 for 35 years and have never had any problems at all with my feet, lucky for me. However, for the last 11 months I've been doing a lot (and I mean a LOT) of walking as I train for the Marathon des Sables next year. And I've developed strange numbness in some of my toes.
Of course I've been concerned and have been trying to work out what it could be. Call me stupid, but I don't go to the doctor unless I'm nearly dead, so I've been trying to figure it out for myself. My toes have been warm, not cold, and haven't shown any other signs of problems.
So my conclusion is that it is the excessive exercise, the stretching and straining that have somehow caused them to go "tingly" or numb. And therefore I expect they will gradually come good after the event next year. But I am keeping a close eye on them.
Regarding stress - I have learned over the years that stress is one of the worst things that affects the sugar. It can be emotional stress, physical stress or worst, stress at work. And the kicker is that stress can make the sugar go up or down; there doesn't seem to be any predicting which way it will go. The stress basically destabilises the sugar. Not good.
Alex of Oz
Hi Jeff,
Sorry to hear about your father. Stress is a pretty insidious thing - hard to know what it's supposed to 'feel' like, and difficult to acknowledge it when you're ... stressed.
Liz would kill me for giving advice to others that so obviously contradicts my own approach, but you should see a doctor about your foot! It might be something else .. an old frostnip come back to haunt you perhaps? In the meantime, self-diagnosis tends to be stressful in my experience (I get reverse white coat syndrome, where my blood pressure reads higher at home than when taken by a doctor!)
We're not getting out much at the moment - concentrating on getting our house sorted out. I've found a trail across the street that is skiable all the way to the pub, so I get out x-c skiing some evenings. Winter has yet to release its grip on Edmonton; today's high is minus 23 celsius.
-- Andy
Andy!
Great to hear from you! And you're right - stress is hard to gauge. I don't manifest it in ways I see it in others so tend to disregard those occasional "feelings." Regarding the toe, DP had the same thought - old frostbite. Maybe, but I don't think so. And although I'm really not adverse to seeing docs (despite my home-grown diabetes knowledge always being more relevant and useful) I've not yet seen mine. I need to do that.
Skiing here has been absolutely phenomenal! Yesterday I skied a fresh 19" (13 F. snow, probably that same arctic blast from Edmonton) which fell on top of Thursday's 15". We're finally into the January snow we never got in January. Say hi to Liz for me.
Jeff
Hope you have seen the Doc. Mr. Jeff.
My only news is that I have a torn rotator -- actually a bankart tear, whatever the h*ll that is. I am seeing a surgeon Thursday and now have a MEDICAL excuse not to rock climb anything needing my left arm. Haven't ice climbed all year...
I will be posting a TR from Boyan soon, unless he beats me to the punch.
Big hugs, dp
Well damn the luck. When we spoke recently I had a sneaking suspicion it might be a tear in there someplace. Sorry to hear that. The good news is the surgical outcome is usually 95% (or better) of your original range & strength. I've had some friends' shoulders under the knife recently so I speak from some experience.
Keep me updated & let's talk soon.
Jeff
Well, it would have been too simple! No tear, no surgery...Just good old anhesive capsulitis. Maybe a steroid injeciton into the joint and PT. What about you, Jeff, any updates?
That's great news on the shoulder. No surgery - way better!
I actually met w/Sebastian White - who spoke at MAD '07 - last Friday. Yeah, it's pretty much neuropathy of one form or another. We discussed the possibility of it being caused by too much pressure on the top of my foot from my ski boot. Regardless, the initial "treatment" is capsaisin cream (the active ingredient in hot peppers) applied to the troublesome toe area. The idea is to stimulate the blood flow and nervous system in that area in hopes it'll come back. You just have to remember to wash your hands after applying the cream before, ahem... going to the bathroom. No need for extra heat there.
I've got a bit of a shoulder issue my ownself. A nagging thing that's starting to really piss me off. Grumble... But I am making a more concerted effort at staying on top of the big D. In fact I'm getting the eyeballs dilated tomorrow for a peek in there. And just ordered another box of sensors, something I've gotten away from. How frequently are you using sensors?
Jeff