I have type2 diabetes and have pain in my legs and feet, not bad but it's always there at night, like needles just a weird feeling and it's worse at night. When I get in bed it goes away, can't figure it out. Would anyone know of medicane that would help me with this problem. Maybe someone out there has had this problem and has found something to take this feeling away. Jim

Neuropathy can feel worse at night as that is when we sit the most. Sitting further reduces the blood flow to our feet and legs and can set the off. The only thing that usuallly helps mine is to get up and move on top of deep massage. The deep rubbing in my calves and feet usually help return enough blood flow to feel better.
You might also want to make an appt with your Dr so they can order the proper tests. You really don't want to mess around with nerve issues without knowing what they are in the first place. Good luck and I hope you get to feeling better

Believe it or not try a really hot bath it works

Hi Jim. I'm not sure if I had the same pain as you are experiencing as mine was on the top section of my feet, in my thighs and in my abdomen. But I went along to my doctor many times before they seemed to take me seriously. They eventually prescribed Motival which is actually an antidepressant, which can also tone down the sensitivity of the nerves. It took five weeks for the effects of the drug to kick in, but it worked a treat for me.

Hope this helps.

My husband has Type 2 and started with mild pain in his feet and legs several years ago. He was treated by his family doctor with an antidepressant but that really did no help. With Diabetes the nerves can be affected by your glucose level. He has been now diagnosed with Diabetic Neuropathy and taking a drug specific for the condition. Lyrica 75 mg. My suggestion to you is to go make an appointment with a Neurologist and have the testing done to see if you are starting with this side affect of Diabetes. The sooner you are diagnosed the better your chances are of possibly preventing any further damage to your nerves. Once your nerves are dead there is no turning around.

Hello to All ; :wave:


I'm NEW to this Group but I'm not New to the Leg and Feet Pain and Numbness .

I have type 2 Diabetes and also a lot of Low Back Pain that keeps me in Bed 20+ hours every day .

I have recently noticed that if I take one of my pain pills AND !! put a heating pad on my leg close to the feet or on my thigh area and cover it with a blanket or a pillow and set the heat level to HIGHT for a few minutes then lower it to Medium and leave it on my legs for an hour or so that it will lower the PAINS so I can get some sleep . :angel:

Also if you take a HOT bath and stay in the Tub for about 30 Minutes just before you go to bed it will help .

My wife has Blue Shield HMO and I think after reading some of this Groups Info that I might need to go see a SPECIAL Doctor about my Nerve Pain in my legs and feet .

My regular Family Doc NEVER told me about what I learned here TODAY .

All I was told and Given was Metformin and Lisinopril to keep my type 2 under control .

Are there any Medications BETTER for Type 2 Diabetes that what I'm taking ??? :confused:

I am also on a Diet trying to lose weight since I'm Obese . :)

Davis2877
It appears you have been given only minimal information regarding your diabetes. You stated you have a HMO. With that type of insurance you can get alot of preventive and helpful services. Unfortunately alot of family doctors don't readily feed you with all the information. They really leave it up to you to ask the questions and get the help. I have found alot of information by searching the internet for Neuropathy and Diabetes. This has helped me become informed on what is out there. I am not talking about the sites that claim to have "miracle cures". Also we took classes (most insurance companies pay for the cost) at our local hospital for diabetes education. They have a nutritionist which takes your individual condition and teaches you how to eat for good glucose levels and weight maintenance.
As far as the medications each person has a different response to the drugs that are out there. Some people have to use a combination of several while others are able to handle their glucose levels with only one drug and diet.
The Lisinpril that you are taking is to control blood pressure. Since you state you are obese your doctor is trying to control the blood pressure.

Thanks so much for all that answered my question on my Leg Pain, I hope to learn more about my type 2 diabetes and therefore I will be able to maybe help someone else. Thank-you JIm

You might want to ask your doc about medications used to help supress the pain of diabetic neuropathy, like Neurontin or the newer Lyrica. The anti-depressant drug, Cymbalta, was recently approved for treatment of neuropathy, as well.

If your neuropathy is advanced to the point where you've lost some of the feeling in your feet, you should obviously take care when using anything like hot water or a heating pad.

Hope you get some relief.

Hi, everyone.
I have uncontrolled type 2 diabetes, sugars usually run in the 200-300's. I have leg and feet pain all the time but it doesn't feel like pinpricks as the original poster stated. It just aches, all the time, mostly when I'm in bed. I find myself kicking the bed without even realizing it and sometimes I move my legs around so much that it wakes me up.
Does this sound like neuropathy? I just assumed it was some sort of restless leg syndrome?

It may possibly be the start of neuropathy. My husband started with his many years ago and we thought at first it was something just wrong with his feet. He went to the foot doctor and he had originally told us it was from his work at the time. He was a truck driver and was always jumping off the back of the truck. He didn't like to walk because as he explained it to me his feet just hurt all the time. When he changed jobs the pain (achs) never went away instead it increased to the point of the pins needles and aches. If your sugar levels are uncontrolled I would work on getting them under control. Talk with your doctor and have the tests done so you can rule out all your if's. You can have a EMG done to test the nerves.

diabetic26,
your description sounds a lot like the way my dad describes his neuropathy; i.e., his feet "just ache". my understanding is that the feelings can vary, but that's the one that bothers him the most.

do you experience numbness or lack of feeling in your feet at other times? for example, if you step on something, do you know it? if you close your eyes and someone touches various parts of your foot, can you feel it? those obviously aren't medical tests, but maybe will give you something to consider.

sugars that "usually" run in the 200s and 300s aren't good. there are SO many things that can affect your readings, and of course everyone is unique in how their bodies handle such things. but talk to you doctor, read stuff online, talk to other people - do what you can to try to get those sugars under control.

my dad's been type 2 for about 15 years. he hasn't controlled it well for much of that time and his neuropathy now goes up up to about mid-calf. he stepped on a piece of broken glass last month and didn't know it until he saw the blood he'd tracked all over the house. he's started getting some now in his fingers and we just found out that it's affected his stomach and digestive system, too. (i hadn't even known that was possible!)

anyway, good luck and take care!