Diabetes Type 2 Support Group

Here is something I came across:

Medication that Treats Seizures Might Also Relieve Debilitating Leg Aches in Diabetics

ST. LOUIS -- Patients who have nerve damage in their legs and arms with pain from diabetes may be eligible for a clinical trial at Saint Louis University to test the effectiveness of an investigational medication for pain relief.

"Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a chronic and debilitating disorder," says Ghazala Hayat, M.D., associate professor of neurology at Saint Louis University School of Medicine and principal investigator for the study. "It affects your quality of life. Patients can wake up with pain and go to bed with pain. They may hurt so badly they can't enjoy life. Many are willing to try anything."

Saint Louis University is the only place in St. Louis that is researching whether a medication commonly given to treat seizures can control the pain from diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Typically, antidepressants, "numbing medications" and prescriptions such as OxyContin may be used for pain control.

"Trileptal (oxcarbazepine), which is used to treat seizures, has shown some efficacy in treating diabetic neuropathy because it works on the nerve fibers to calm and stabilize them," Dr. Hayat says.

Diabetic neuropathy can affect the nerve fivers of upper and lower extremities -- i.e. hands, arms, feet and legs. Patients may experience a tingling, burning sensation or sharp shooting pains. Some people have numbness; some patients experience episodic pain, while still others are in constant discomfort. If diabetic neuropathy affects their legs, a person might have difficulty walking and become more likely to fall.

Diabetic neuropathies -- nerve damage caused by diabetes -- can affect practically any organ system, including the digestive tract, heart and sex organs. More than 1.27 million people who have diabetes also have diabetic neuropathy. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is the most common form of the condition, and affects the arms and legs.

"For some people, it's like putting your hand in an oven. For others it's similar to the uncomfortable feeling of your foot being asleep. Only they might have it all the time," Hayat says.

Progressive or severe neuropathy is more likely to occur in people whose diabetes is not controlled because diabetic neuropathy is caused by prolonged high blood sugar levels. Nerves throughout the body gradually become damaged once blood glucose levels rise above a certain level. However, even if a person with diabetes deceases high cholesterol levels and controls his blood sugar by eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly and taking medication, he still could develop peripheral neuropathy. The longer a person has diabetes, the greater the risk of developing neuropathy.

The short answer is yes, diabetic neuropathy causes constant leg pain until you can clear it up. Get your blood sugars down to normal and get regular cardio and yoga in to improve your circulation -- it WILL clear up.

The short answer is yes, diabetic neuropathy causes constant leg pain until you can clear it up. Get your blood sugars down to normal and get regular cardio and yoga in to improve your circulation -- it WILL clear up.

The short answer is yes, diabetic neuropathy causes constant leg pain until you can clear it up. Get your blood sugars down to normal and get regular cardio and yoga in to improve your circulation -- it WILL clear up.

Wow, how did I make the same post 3x? Let's see if I can screw up this post too!

Oh, I would read the fine print before starting Trileptal -- it's an anti-seizure drug that, in people who don't actually have seizures, can CAUSE seizures. A lot of other people use Neurontin for diabetic neuropathy, and others just clean up their acts and their nervous systems by correcting their blood sugars.

I have pain in my legs but I thought it was from arthritas and Fibromyalgia and Chronic Myofascial pain syndrome. I have problems with my feet as well. I think now it is from the diabtes.

Even if you don't have neuropathy, high BS can make you hurt outrageously. The only cure is to get the reading back down where it belongs.

Many things cause the legs to ache, INCLUDING not elevating the legs at times.
Sitting at a computer without finding a way to elevate your legs is not good, either.
Thank Goodness I have an old wooden desk chair that I use at the computer. Can sit cross legged, rock back and forth, and it really helps my legs and prevents them from 'dangling' ---
Medications for various ailments can cause leg pain, also.....

Thanks to everyone who replied. I take 1200mg. of gabapentin per day for the neuropathy.

My son experience achy legs and found out it was the dosage of metformin he was on. He had to break the dosage up throughout the day. Then the legs went back to not hurting. Just more information in case it helps.