Question:
Diabetes

For those of you who were Diabetic and have had gastric bypass.....do you know the tingling, pins & needle feeling you would get in your legs from the Diabetes? Did it stopped after your gastric bypass (being that the Diabetes goes away w/this particular surgery) or do you still get that tingling feeling in your legs? I'm scheduled for 1.5 weeks from now for gastric bypass & am currently diabetic.    — Ruth M. (posted on February 3, 2009)

February 3, 2009
I would say it depends if the diabetes remains or leaves. If the tingling remains it is usually from the nerve damage the diabetes has done. Just check with the docs to see what they think. Good Luck and God Bless, vinnigirl, retired RN
   — vinnigirl

February 3, 2009
The symptoms you describe sound like neuropathy. If that is the case, it is permanent damage to the nerves and it will not go away after the surgery, although weightloss might help aleviate the pain. Remember to ask your doctor these questions regarding your medical concerns. Good luck.
   — maria09elena

February 3, 2009
Hi Ruth, I had RNY in 7/2008. I was taking 4 shots of insulin a day and also 2 oral meds for Diabetes. I had major damage to my left foot last November ( 2007) It was related to the Diabetes. It has been a year and 3 months since I started having issues with it burning. Since WLS surgery and physical therapy, the burning has all but gone away and the discoloration is getting better. Don't get me wrong, it has not ,nor do I think it ever will go away, but it is better than it was before. I am 42 years old and feel like I am in my teens again as far as energy. I would not change anything about having WLS except to have had it sooner! Good luck!
   — *****GIGS *******

February 3, 2009
I still consider myself a diabetic even though it is controlled by diet and exercise. Before surgery I was taking 4 shots a day and oral meds then went on a pump and used 500 insulin instead of the 100. It is 5 times stronger. I stopped the oral meds 1 month before surgery and the pump came off 1 week before. I have had nothing since for the diabetes. I think that once you are a diabetic you always will be. But I suffer from the nuropathy problem too. I take medication twice a day for it. My wls doctor told me that it sometimes goes away but most of the time it is permanent damage. I find that it usually isn't as bad as before but it is still there. I use to have to take the medication 3 times a day and now it is alright with the 2. So to an extent it does get somewhat better. Good luck on the surgery. Welcome to the loser's bench.
   — Brenda R.

February 5, 2009
I read your concerns about diabetes. I also have diabetes and I thought that after my surgery I wouldn't be on medicine any longer but I still take four shots a day and a diabetic pill. The number of units decreased but none the less I still have to take my diabetic medicine. I am only 9 pounds from goal and I still have the tingling pins and needles feeling that you get in your legs. It is called diabetic neuropathy and it never goes away. When I was heavier I had a lot of pain in my legs but now that I've lost weight I still feel the tingling but it's not as bad. It is something that will never go away. I have just learned to live with it even though it very irritating. The surgery was well worth it. I would do it in a heartbeat again. It's amazing how much more you can do when all that extra weight off. Wishing you the best of luck. You'll do great!
   — Vicky Sneed