Cold feet

Off and on I have cold feet and I understand neuropathy, so I walk fast down the hall, march in place, and wear socks to bed at night which I have to take off at 2:00 a.m. because I am warm by then from the wool blanket and from metabolism of my food which produces some heat. I don't want to rely on pills for problems as I have had bad results on many fronts, and I can feel the benefit of a little exercise to help circulation. It embarrasses me to admit it, but being more active is a wonderful improvement in all kinds of health issues. I must remember not to sit too long at my age, and to get up and do a little chore. The latest advice in nutrition is to make sure there is some good fat in each meal because a low fat diet slows down metabolism and, presto, cold feet. I use a stretch band on my feet to keep the tendon stretched, and I wear orthotic shoes which have cured my fasciitis problems. These home remedies work for me and I am 83 years young. I have never had my AIC be over 6.8 but I think it would be lower if I were more active. A couple of years ago it was only 6.2 and I am so fond of veggies that it makes a difference. I eat too much dairy products sometimes when I make homemade ice cream, but I use sweetener and the family doesn't notice the lack of sugar. I love to bake, but have learned to eat only a sliver and then give the rest away. It helps if you eat a sweet only during a balanced meal and definitely not as a snack. All these little things add up to better success.

@aceg I have diabetes also, but no complications or problems as of yet. I choose to go to an endocrinologist for it. My endo left town a few years ago so I was using my PCP for a while but then I decided to drive the hour to where the endo relocated, he's that good. I just think they know more, it's their specialty.
JK

@quiteachiver75 I HAVE COLD FEET MOST OF THE TIME BUT DON’T SUFFER FROM DIABETES DO YOU KNOW OF ANOTHER REASON FOR COLD FEET 🦶

Aceg and Teresa Logan - Life is complicated, and the human body even more so. There are several reasons for cold feet that I've run into within my life--so I'm sure there are a ton of additional reasons that I haven't. Maybe it is your diabetes, but maybe it's something else. I've had bouts of Reynauds that caused my hands and/or feet to feel so uncomfortably cold that it felt as though nothing would warm them. I could wake up from sleep with no explanation in the middle of the night (my husband was a saint). I've also had thyroid disease for over 25 years that too left me with hot or cold bouts depending on regulation of meds (when leaning toward hypo thyroid--brrrr). Don't give up. I haven't had a bout of Reynauds in several years--and whether it's the reason or not, I attribute that to having a bit of a wake up call to taking better care of myself. I made some moves to rid my life of chemicals (ditched dryer sheets, researched laundry detergent, dish soaps, shampoos and body washes with the lowest chemical footprints, no window cleaners or air fresheners but switched to special window cloths that just utilize water and enzyme cleaners that address odors. Next, I've tried to get an appropriate amount of sleep and eat better. I've also discovered that extra tart cherry juice and also vera have a lot of health benefits and started using them regularly. In other words--take care of you. On the diabetes side--my hubby has struggled for years. No matter if he went to the gym 5 days per week or 1, he just couldn't lose weight. He tried a lot (including some of the drugs you mentioned--yes, a few mentioned weight loss as a side effect and that didn't pan out) and there were a lot of side effects. We had a friend mention addressing gut health (specifically an overgrowth of candida). He was desperate because he tried so much, and so far (not quite 6 months in) it's been successful. He's slowly lost weight since December (about 35 lbs so far) without getting back to the gym. He's hoping that losing a little more will not only benefit his blood sugars but make walking or riding a stationary bike easier. Don't give up. Talk to your Endo about your concerns. Maybe take notes so you can have a nice concise list for the doctor (if you have an online patient portal, message the doctor before your appt so he can be ready to answer your questions). Then do all of the little things that you can put "you" in the best position possible.

Sometimes in life it is better to be limited with your budget. And what we can afford is often a matter of opinion and choice rather than actual need. Yes, I found I don't need dryer sheets which make me sneeze. And air fresheners aren't as good as vinegar in a dish, that sort of decision. Doing daily chores around the house and yard will bring my blood sugar down better than diet after I have limited the carbs that make me feel stuffed and sleepy. It is a matter of taking care of ourselves the best we can. I wear socks to bed at night after sitting to watch TV while my feet get colder and colder, and then I must take them off at 2:00 a.m. because I am too hot in bed. I am a little tired of rubbing moisturizers all the time, but I don't actually look my age, if that means much. We must study and make ourselves the priority after years of serving others and ignoring our body needs. No one else is going to do it for us, including the doctors.

@dorisena. Tend to agree with your comments. I first started disagreeing with doctors when I was about 25 years old, and in several instances, probably prolonged my life because I didn't follow "doctor's orders." Over the years, I've learned that it's true that "God helps those who help themselves." Now 80 and just diagnosed with diabetes, it's just one more item added to my "to do" list. BTW, I was feeling sleepy and a bit foggy for most of last year, but it turned out to be a vitamin B-12 problem. Something to consider if being tired all the time is a problem.

From my personal experience, I have cold feet and a toe without feeling which my neurologist says is nerve damage. Sometimes I have a little tingling but when I first was diagnosed with diabetes, I had numbness and exercised my feet and it went right away. I did some of the exercise in the shower. I liked that. I have had two knee replacements and back surgery, and I think some of the numbness is from those surgeries. One knee was numb for many months and is now o.k. The other knee has problems since the back surgery. Actually my feet have been cold for years and I just laughed it off, but not now. It is difficult to reason it all out at my age. My son who was a paramedic years ago said the heart doesn't pump well and he saw a lot of swollen ankles and feet problems when taking elderly to the emergency room. He saw lots of diabetes because of poor eating habits. The answer to these problems is always exercise and better eating. For me, it boils down to less portions of good eating and more exercise. That helps everything. Wear socks to bed. Now I remember I used to have cold hands all the time, but not anymore. I still play the piano. I can sew up a storm when motivated.
My mother had terrible numbness in her hands with arthritis in her forties. She couldn't braid my hair, but I didn't want it braided anyway.
She had both osteo and rhumatoid arthritis. Our bodies are so complicated, but I continue to study and search. Dorisena

Aceg, I think the nutritionist is the best help. Weaning yourself from high carbohydrates can be depressing, but when you finally feel much better, it is well worth the effort. Finding good tasting food that is fresh and doesn't run the blood sugar numbers up is really encouraging. I can only encourage you to get into the hobby of cooking from scratch and enjoying every bite. I like the word "active" instead of exercise, so that is the other half of the experience.
I am becoming anti-meds because everything seems to make me sleepy and I can't function during the day. I can't live that way! I have had two bouts with cancer and survived them both so now eating well is my number one goal besides getting a good night's sleep. I struggle with that as well. Dorisena

You seem to have a good handle on what constitutes a good diabetic diet... Since I was only diagnosed a couple of months ago, I am trying to learn more about a good varied diet that keeps me feeling satisfied and happy.. My feet are always either too hot (erythromelalgia!) or too cold (raynaud's?).. I noticed that you said we need some good fat with every meal.. so maybe that's what is causing me so much discomfort now.. I will definitely add some butter or olive oil to each meal from now on.. Also, you mention that you have a small amount of sweets now and then.. that's been missing from my diet and I'm so longing for a donut that I can almost taste one now.. Exercise like walking is out of the question for me, but I do use a stationary bicycle and ride a mile every day.. If I can get stronger I would like to pedal for a mile or two each day, but right now I need to fix my diet so I don't get all shaky and winded at one mile.. My doctor tells me that I have to get as much exercise as I can manage and I really do want to, not only for my sake but also for my dear husband.. He deserves a wife who sincerely strives to be healthier... Thank you for posting your comments and I will be following you for more tips in the future... Blessings...

It's been a long time since I've been here! but I recently discovered using simple home made rice bags that I heat in the microwave has helped me gain relief from cold feet more than anything else I've tried.. I heat them two of them together for about a minute and a half, then sit in my recliner with my feet only slightly raised.. place the bags on top of my feet and ankles.. The heat feels so good! and warms my feet slowly.. Of course I'm always wearing socks, too.. During the day I wear wool socks, but sleep in soft knit synthetic ones.. even can just roll these down from my heels so that my toes are still in socks to keep them warm. Also I use a heated mattress pad at night and that helps a lot.. I hope this simple idea helps you and others who have very cold feet..