What Causes Severe Body Pains In Diabetic Patient?

Posted on Sat, 7 Jun 2014

Question: I have had body pains for years, but they have been getting more difficult to deal with, and now for about two weeks I have been having pain in my head that move around form temple to temple to the back to the top of my head and about three times in the past couple of months I have had a peroxice type taste in my mounth with numbness. I have an appointment with a neurologist Tuesday. These problems are worring me. I have type one diabetes as well and for the past few years I drink 6 to 8 beers a night to releave the pain so I could sleep.

Answered by Dr. Albana Sejdini (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Diabetic neuropathy....

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

I have gone through your medical history carefully and feel sorry for situation you are in.

You are reporting to be a type 1 diabetic for 8 years now and you are getting treatment for that (I suppose insulin). Having body pains is a sign of diabetic neuropathy, especially when blood sugar is not well-controlled.

You are also reporting to drink 6 - 8 beers a night to relieve the pain and sleep. Although this "method" provides relief to you; however, it is not the right way to "beat" sleepiness.

Beer (and other alcoholic drinks) is the first enemy for diabetics. It will make your things worst:
- you are at risk at suffering of sever hypoglycemia (hypoglycemic coma) if you use alcohol
- your body pains won't get relief as alcohol will get your neuropathy worst
- your liver will suffer bad effects of drinking alcohol and having uncontrolled diabetes

So, as you may see, drinking beer is not the solution to your sleep problems. Controlling blood sugar (through taking medications correctly as described by your doctor, lifestyle and diet changes) can help improve your symptoms.

You should consult with a neurologist to run further tests for diabetic neuropathy and get it treated accordingly.

Remember: the only permanent solution is to control your blood sugar levels without drinking alcohol.

All the best!
Dr.Albana
Do let me know if you have further queries!

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Albana Sejdini (31 minutes later)

My blood sugar A1c is 7.2 not great but could be worse my blood pressure averages 121 over 81. And i had the Flu in december and why i was on the medication i expereanced afib and really have not felt great sence, but the last couple of weeks the head pains started every now and then know its more consistant numbness had only happened a couple of time but the past two days its happening often the doctor put me on cyclobenzaprine to take at bed time to help sleep a couple of days ago and i have not had a drink sence before then. I own my own company and the stress leave has been high. Back in October i had a nucliar stress test and ultrasound everything was good its just funny to me how this head thing just started i take Two Advil every 6 hours it helps for a little while i have attached a couple pages of my blood work

Answered by Dr. Albana Sejdini (16 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Foollowing advice for tension headaches...

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

Thank you for sending your medical data in.

I have gone through your lab reports, and found them perfectly normal.

If advil and cyclobenzaprine are helping with your headaches, and all the tests resulted fine; then, your headache is tension headache (stress/work overloaded).

At this point, I can advise to :
- continue taking advil
- apply warm clothing to neck area
- have frequent warm-to-hot bathes (not too hot)
- at bedtime, soak your feet inside warm water with table salt. Then, dry your feet well and apply lavender/rose essential oils (if you cannot get them, apply olive oil).
- massages (physio-therapy) can also help (especially after work)
- take 1 teaspoon of olive oil and honey every morning
- I usually prescribe vit.B complex shots for at least 5 days, then, continue taking multivitamins orally

Hope it was of help! Let me know if you have further queries! Otherwise, kindly give your feedback while closing this discussion! Thank you!
Dr.Albana

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar