I have lived with peripheral neuropathy for about eight years now, mostly stemming from my type 2 diabetes. For the longest time, the hardest part of my day was actually the night. As soon as I climbed into bed and my feet got warm under the sheets, the electric shocks and that “crawling” sensation would start. It made getting a full night of sleep nearly impossible.
After trying several different things, I finally found a routine that cut the nighttime discomfort by about 60%. First, I invested in a cooling foot wedge pillow. Keeping my feet slightly elevated and out from under the heavy comforter made a massive difference in blood flow and temperature. I also switched to 100% silk or high-thread-count bamboo sheets because they don’t snag on my skin, which used to trigger a flare-up. Lastly, I stopped eating anything with processed sugar after 4:00 PM. I noticed that my “zingers” were significantly worse on days I had a dessert with dinner.
These small changes didn’t cure me, but they gave me my sleep back, which helps me manage the pain better during the day. I’m curious to hear what others are doing for their nighttime routine. Do you find that keeping your feet cold helps more than heat? Also, has anyone else noticed a direct link between sugar intake and their evening nerve pain levels? I’d love to hear what specific pillows or bedding you all use to stay comfortable.