Newly diagnosed diabetes and hind end weakness

[Leslie]

Re: Newly diagnosed diabetes and hind end weakness

Update on Hannah! Blood sugars r improving and she is standing on her own and walking short distances. Slight improvements daily. Thanks for this forum, as vet said diabetes does not present this way.

[Rubytuesday]

Re: Newly diagnosed diabetes and hind end weakness

Hi Leslie, I am not familiar with your thread, but just scanned it quickly before heading to bed.

I am glad you are seeing some improvement and I wanted to pass along some b12 info that was shared with me:

From a published Japanese study:
New evidence suggests that oral B12 works as well as injections, according to a study published in the journal Blood. This verifies reports from Sweden dating from the 1970s that pernicious anemia, a disease of B12 deficiency, can be controlled with oral B12. (people with pernicious anemia lack the intrinsic factor).
*But another form, methylcobalamin, may be the best of all. Research shows that this active form of B12 has the unique ability to provoke the regeneration of nerves without adverse side effects.

And this from another study, Division of Neurology, KingKhalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia:
We studied the clinical and neurophysiological effects of methylcobalamin on patients with diabetic neuropathy. In a double-blind study, the active group showed statistical improvement in the somatic and autonomic symptoms with regression of signs of diabetic neuropathy.
Methylcobalamin,which is the neurologically active form of B12.This B12 facilitates methylation, the process that creates and maintains nerves and brain chemicals.


The clinical study concerning B12/folate lowering BS is from the European Journal of Endrocrinology:
CONCLUSIONS: Folate and vitamin B12 treatment improved insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction, along with decreasing homocysteine levels, in patients with metabolic syndrome.
http://www.eje-online.org/content/151/4/483.abstract

Keep up the good work.

Tara

[Eddie]

Re: Newly diagnosed diabetes and hind end weakness

Hi Leslie and Hannah
I was so pleased to read this. Isn't it great when you start to see those little improvements! It does take time but it's definitely worth waiting for.
(Our vet didn't recognise it as neuropathy either and it was only advice from this forum that got us through!).
Lovely news!
Antonia

[GillH]

Re: Newly diagnosed diabetes and hind end weakness

Update on Hannah! Blood sugars r improving and she is standing on her own and walking short distances. Slight improvements daily. Thanks for this forum, as vet said diabetes does not present this way.

Hi Leslie, really glad that things are slowly improving. I mentioned further down this thread that my Westie also suffered with the same hind leg weakness. My vet didn't really comment on it at the time or explain why it was happening. I put it down to Ailidh losing so much weight very quickly, plus the untreated (at that time) diabetes making her very weak. All of which is probably true.

The good news is that since starting insulin towards the beginning of July she is now much steadier on her feet, not 100% yet and it's been slow going, but last night for the first time in weeks I took her for a short walk on her lead, not very far and it was slow going as she is now also blind, but a few weeks ago I wouldn't have thought even this would be possible. Thanks to this forum I began to realise this is a common complication of diabetes but it seems that in most cases things do improve over time. Keep going, you're doing well!

[Leslie]

Re: Newly diagnosed diabetes and hind end weakness

Thanks to everyone for the encouragement! Hannah is doing very well. Can't believe how she is getting around. She still has difficulty getting up steps to come into house, but its only been a month since dx. Her sugars are under control with 12 units on insulin every 12 hours. Had a low sugar one day and had to give her syrup (I think I overdid the insulin that day). Took her for a check up, saw a different vet and he said she should improve to her baseline.

[Eddie]

Re: Newly diagnosed diabetes and hind end weakness

That's lovely to hear.
Eddie got back to how he was (ie so you wouldn't notice there was any problem with his legs) probably 2-3 months after starting insulin so it may take that sort of time. It sounds as if you are well on the way which is great. I still sometimes just enjoy walking behind Eddie as he trots along and seeing how nicely his legs work! It all makes you appreciate things that you used to take for granted!!
Antonia