Has Anyone With Neuropathy Had Any Experience With Red, Hot, Burning Lower Legs or Feet?

>While we are on the subject of possible "reactions" -- has anyone with neuropathy had any experience with red, hot, burning lower legs or feet? Mine seems to be limited to the fronts of my shins -- but gradually creeping around to the back sometimes. When I have a flare, there are sometimes blisters, and if they grow, take a long time to heal.<

I have that. No one-- my endocrinologist, a dermatologist, my podiatrist, nor my PCP, who's an internal medicine doc, has ever seen anything like it. Your description of it sounds like what I have.

Fortunately (unfortunately? ) as my peripheral neuropathy has worsened and I've lost more sensation in my feet and lower legs, the itching and burning has eased somewhat. Usually it's just kind of dry and a bit flaky/scabby, and I have some bubbles filled with clear fluid that are very hard to the touch.

Anytime you have open blisters, you should present yourself to your doc for them to do a culture. I had two of mine open at different times, and they were both infected with that MRSA bug, which needs a certain kind of antibiotic.

Beyond that, I just try to keep the skin clean (but with no rubbing or abrasion), and keep the skin comfortable with a plain, unscented skin lotion. Sometimes I use a prescription strength cortisone cream on certain areas if they're very red or itchy. Anything sore gets the betadine treatment, followed up with neosporin. Both betadine and neosporin are OTC products, but my docs say the combo works as well as anything they could prescribe.

But you should make sure to get your own doc's recommendations about taking care of this, do your best to keep your blood sugars as normal as possible, and probably above all, never neglect any sore or open places.

READ MORE - Has Anyone With Neuropathy Had Any Experience With Red, Hot, Burning Lower Legs or Feet?

The Combination of Metformin and Insulin Can Reduce The Weight Gain Typical for Insulin Alone

You are of course correct. I now see the combination of Metformin and insulin can reduce the weight gain typical for insulin alone. I know what you mean about multiple drugs. I am now taking a cocktail of drugs as a result of my recent bad bout with kidney failure, et all. I am not entirely happy with some of the drugs involved. I have even passed out from low blood pressure, the first time I ever fainted in 57 years of living, as far as I can recall. Nevertheless, I am glad I quit Metformin personally.

I still question the wisdom of not discontinuing it [metformin] when insulin therapy is initiated. There are of course other opinions. Well, my "opinion" is that I shouldn't have to take any of the sh**tty drugs I shove down my gullet every day. Sigh. Damned things... I KNOW they're poison, but... which disorder do I choose to not treat, and why? And when? Not even the so-called experts can tell me which of the many drugs I take is more apt to kill me than any other. Taking any kind of medication is a calculated risk, I'd say, just as is leaving any medical condition untreated, for that matter. A couple of years ago, I asked my endo about discontinuing the metformin-- I told her, "I don't think it does anything anyway." So she looked me up and down and said, "Go ahead. Don't take it anymore if you want. I think you'll see it DOES do something." So I did, I discontinued it, and within about 3-4 days, I found my blood sugars going up, my insulin requirements increasing, etc. Sigh, sigh, sigh. And yeah, I went back on it and am still on it.

When someone like me, who besides 1000 mg of metformin also takes 110 units of Lantus a day and upwards of 150 units of Humalog, decides they're not going to take metformin anymore, well.... I guess I should start buying those 100 unit syringes, huh? Or maybe see about switching to U-500 insulin, something my doc doesn't want me to do. See, this is why we can't make generalities about diabetes care-- each and every one of us here on the list has a different way of getting to where they need to be (close as possible, anyway), and when it comes to meds (like anything else), YMMV is never more true.

READ MORE - The Combination of Metformin and Insulin Can Reduce The Weight Gain Typical for Insulin Alone

Food for Men No 10: Red-Orange Vegetables

Vitamin C and beta-carotene are antioxidants that help preserve healthy skin cells and prevent oxidation from the sun. "Vitamin C is involved in collagen production," says Bauer. "Beta-carotene converts to the active form of vitamin A, which helps to repair epithelial or skin cells."

She recommends getting these nutrients from red bell peppers (just one has 300% of the recommended daily value for vitamin C), carrots, pumpkin, or sweet potatoes. But for that matter, just about any vegetable should be on the list of top foods for men (and women). Dark, leafy greens and any nutrient-rich vegetable can help reduce the risk of enlarged prostates, according to a recent study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Men whose diets are high in nutrients found in vegetables -- like vitamin C, beta-carotene, and potassium - were found to be less likely to develop benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or enlarged prostate.

READ MORE - Food for Men No 10: Red-Orange Vegetables

Food for Men No 9: Berries or Cherries

The violet, blue, and red colors in all kinds of berries and cherries are responsible for the healthy properties of these fruits. These little jewels are chock-full of the health-protecting flavonoid, anthocyanin. "Berries contain over 4,000 different compounds that have antioxidant properties beyond vitamin C, so make sure you include these delicious and low-calorie fruits to help meet your 5+ servings of fruits each day," says Gerbstadt.

Adding berries to the diet may even help slow the decline in brain function that can occur with aging. "Large studies show the more produce you eat the better, but specifically berries (blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, cranberries, and cherries) can enhance brain function and keep your brain healthy," says Bauer.

READ MORE - Food for Men No 9: Berries or Cherries

Food for Men No 8: Soybeans

Soy is rich in isoflavones, which protect prostate health and have been shown to lower prostate cancer risk, says Gerbstadt. And "according to a recent study, eating 25 grams or about 1 ounce of soy protein a day can help decrease cholesterol, " Farrell says. The FDA has approved a health claim for food labels that says having 25 grams of soy protein per day, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, can help reduce the risk of heart disease. Try to eat a few servings a day of soy products, such as soy nuts, soy milk, soy cheese, veggie burgers, tofu, or edamame.

READ MORE - Food for Men No 8: Soybeans

Food for Men No. 7: Plant Stanols

Stanols are naturally occurring substances in fruits and vegetables that have been shown to lower mildly elevated blood cholesterol levels. Manufacturers are now adding concentrated versions of them to products like margarine, yogurt, orange juice, and granola bars. "Men should regularly include a total of 2 grams of plant stanols, taken in two doses with meals, to help inhibit absorption of cholesterol in the intestine," says Farrell. She suggests having 2-3 teaspoons of plant stanol spreads such as Benecol, or 16 ounces of stanol-fortified orange juice per day. Plant stanols can safely be used with cholesterol lowering medication.

READ MORE - Food for Men No. 7: Plant Stanols

Food for Men No. 6: Whole Grains

Most men get enough carbs in their diets, but they tend to be the wrong kind, experts say. "A diet rich in whole grains provides fiber, vitamins, minerals - all the co-factors for heart health, building muscles, and keeping waistlines small," says Gerbstadt. She suggests trying whole grain pasta or quinoa, a trendy, not-so-whole- grain-tasting grain that's rich in lutein for prostate health. Oatmeal and barley are rich in soluble fiber, full of B vitamins that can help lower LDL or "bad" cholesterol, and are also good for the prostate. Suzanne Farrell, RD, recommends getting 10-25 grams of soluble fiber a day from oatmeal or other sources of soluble fiber like apples, pears, and beans.

When buying grain products, look for those whose labels say they
have at least 3-5 g fiber per serving. To avoid digestive problems, increase your fiber intake gradually, and don't forget to drink plenty of water.

READ MORE - Food for Men No. 6: Whole Grains

Food for Men No. 5: Brazil Nuts

These large nuts from Brazil are packed with magnesium and selenium, powerful antioxidants that may help prevent heart disease and cancer and protect prostate health. (Bauer, however, notes that the studies showing reduction in cancer have been primarily in people whose diets were deficient in selenium, not in those who were already getting enough.) Selenium also helps lower LDL or "bad" cholesterol and reduces the incidence of blood clots and heart disease. Grotto recommends adults get 55 micrograms of selenium daily from Brazil nuts, dry-roasted nuts, turkey, tuna, or shellfish. Indeed, you can get your daily dose of selenium in just one Brazil nut. In fact, Bauer cautions limiting yourself to no more than two Brazil nuts per day because "they are so loaded and concentrated with selenium that you don't want to overdose."

READ MORE - Food for Men No. 5: Brazil Nuts

Food for Men No. 4: Broccoli

While virtually all vegetables deserve a place on the superfoods list, cruciferous vegetables like broccoli are helpful in the prevention of heart disease and cancer. It's loaded with vitamin C, beta-carotene, potassium, and a phytochemical called sulphoraphane, which has strong anticancer (prostate and colon) properties. A recent Harvard study found that participants who had five servings a week of cruciferious vegetables were half as likely as others to develop bladder cancer, a cancer that affects two to three times as many men as women. This super-nutritious green vegetable may also help lower levels of homocycteine, an amino acid associated with increased risk of heart disease and stroke.

Don't care for broccoli? Go for other cruciferous choices like cabbage, bok choy, shredded broccoli slaw, cabbage, cauliflower, or Brussels sprouts. And did you ever wonder where the term "cruciferous" originates? "It is not because they are crunchy vegetables, but when the buds from this group of vegetables sprouts, their leaves form a cross like a crucifix," explains Denver dietitian Mary Lee Chin, MS, RD.

READ MORE - Food for Men No. 4: Broccoli

Food for Men No. 3: Fatty Fish

No list of superfoods would be complete without the healthy fat, omega-3 fatty acids. These polyunsaturated fats are the preferred form of fats in your diet for many reasons. They can benefit the heart, circulation, and immune system and reduce the risk for prostate cancer, among other things. "Omega-3 fatty acids are potent anti-inflammatory foods that can help lower triglyceride [blood fat] levels, reduce aches and pains in athletes, and offer relief with certain kinds of arthritis,"
says Bauer.

Fatty fish (salmon, sardines, tuna, mackerel, herring) are the richest sources of omega-3 fatty acids. In fact the American Heart Association recommends that everyone eat fish twice weekly. You can also get omega-3s in plant-based foods, like flaxseed,
walnuts, soy, canola oil, and fortified products such as eggs. But there are other good reasons to eat fish. "Fatty fish are also a good source of vitamin D, a nutrient that tends to be deficient in our diets and [which] in adequate supply can help prevent cancer, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and
bone disease," says Bauer.

READ MORE - Food for Men No. 3: Fatty Fish