Diabetic Neuropathy and B12 Deficiency

A common side-effect of diabetes is neuropathy. In fact, nearly 70% of those suffering from diabetes either has already or will experience some form of neuropathy. While there are a variety of causes of diabetic neuropathy one of the causes has been found to be deficiencies of B12 in the body. Vitamin B12 benefits for neuropathy include nerve regeneration and growth of nerve cells.

There most common type of neuropathy among diabetics is peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy lessens your body's ability to sense pain temperature, touch and vibration particularly in your legs and feet. Numbness, tingling and shooting pains are common complaints of peripheral neuropathy sufferers and problems associated with peripheral neuropathy include ulcers or wounds that won't heal on your legs and feet, bone and joint defects and infection, including gangrene. In fact, over half of the lower limb amputation surgeries are performed on diabetics.

As I mentioned above, approximately 70% of those suffering from diabetes will develop peripheral neuropathy since elevated glucose levels can damage nerves. This occurs over an extended period of time so neuropathy typically occurs in those who are age 60 and over or who have had diabetes for many years. There are a variety of theories why this occurs however as a diabetic, you urinate more frequently since your body is trying to rid itself of the excess sugar in the blood. In this process it is also eliminating large amounts of nutrients and vitamins, including Vitamin B 12. B12 supports the sheathing that coats our nerve cells and is essential for maintaining a healthy nervous system. People suffering from neuropathy have also been found to have a shortage of B12. Not only does B12 coat our nerves but it also is vital for nerve regeneration and growth of nerve cells.

If you believe you have a deficiency of B12 there are a variety of supplements available on the market however while B12 is readily stored in the body it is not as easily absorbed by the body. Even while you may take a large supplementary dose not all of it may be reaching the intended source. To prevent this problem and ensure that you are replenishing your vitamin B12 you may want to take monthly B12 injections to maintain adequate body levels and to replenish what has been lost. Talk with your physician to see if this is the best option for you.

Julia L Hanf is a proud contributing author and writes articles about Neuropathy and its complications. Neuropathy is not to be taken lightly, it is an awful condition that affects thousands of people every year. You can lower your risk of Neuropathy by keeping your blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels close to the target numbers.

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