[AnnieBL]

Like you, I'm diabetic (type II), I have good arterial flow, but I have varicose veins. My parents also had them. I also use horse chestnut as well as diosmin, but I still sometimes have issues with edema. I haven't had problems with ulcers, yet, but there is a doctor who recommends using a ring of petroleum jelly around the ulcer, then covering the ulcer with sugar and dressing it with gauze. I now have the suspicion it is the petroleum jelly doing the work.

I haven't tried this, but there is something else you might find helpful. I'm not sure what it is called, but there is a machine that uses waves of air starting at the feet and working toward the thighs. You put on these sleeves, attach a hose to each sleeve, turn on the machine, and it rhythmically compresses the legs to force blood to flow out of the legs the way it should. My mom had one, but her doctor prescribed it. I'm not sure what they cost or if they are readily available where you live. I'm in the states. I'm not even sure if a prescription is needed here. Often, a prescription is used here so insurance will cover part of the cost.

My first reaction was 'I don't have diabetes'. My fasting blood glucose level and A1C are well below the thresholds for even prediabetes, although at the height of my leg problems they were more or less at those thresholds. As a result of this thread I have been further researching peripheral neuropathy, and have learned that glucose spikes can cause this, even though fasting glucose levels and A1C are within normal ranges. Also that some of my other symptoms may be due to PN. I need to investigate this further but in the meanwhile am grateful to you for putting me onto this. Maybe my doctor seven years ago, now retired, was not so far off track after all.

A device such as you mention is available from the Hammacher Schlemmer catalog for $229.95. I have looked at it and wondered but my present routines seem to be doing a fairly good job. I am also eating a much better diet with considerably lower glycemic loads so as to avoid spikes, but fear that the previous nerve damage may be irreversible.