Treatment For Diabetic Neuropathy

High blood sugar levels can cause damage to the arteries that supply the nerves with blood and ultimately cause nerve damage, which results in numbness, pins and needles, burning sensation and pain. This briefly explains why neuropathy has a high occurrence rate among people with diabetes.

Even though currently there is no known cure for diabetic neuropathy, there are things that can be done to slow down the progression of the disease, to relieve the pain, to manage complications and even to restore function.

Since the high blood sugar levels are the main cause of neuropathy, the focus in both treatment and prevention of diabetic neuropathy is on keeping blood sugar within a narrow target range. It is also important to keep your blood pressure under control. These can help delay the progression of peripheral neuropathy and may even cause an improvement in the already existing symptoms.

A healthy lifestyle is also extremely important in order to prevent diabetic neuropathy or slow its progress. This includes eating a healthy diet, getting plenty of physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding alcohol and smoking entirely. The most beneficial type of exercise for people suffering from neuropathy is low-impact exercise, in order to prevent injury. A great trainer for this purpose is the GlideCycle, which offers great workout with virtually zero impact.

One important step in the research of treatment for diabetic neuropathy was the discovery of what alpha-lipoic acid can do. Alpha-lipoic acid is a powerful antioxidant which occurs naturally, in small amounts, in such foods as spinach, broccoli, beef, yeast, kidney, and heart. It is also available as a supplement, but those who want to purchase alpa-lipoic acid supplements have to make sure that what they get is Stabilized R Alpha Lipoic Acid.

In a study conducted by Mayo Clinic and a Russian medical center, 60 patients suffering from diabetic neuropathy received five treatments a week consisting of 600 mg of alpha lipoic acid in intravenous form. The other 60 patients were given a placebo. In less than 20 days the alpha lipoic acid patients reported dramatic improvement in symptoms, including a 6 point drop in pain levels on a 10 point scale. "But it didn't act only as a pain medication," says researcher and Mayo Clinic neurologist Peter Dyck, MD. "Alpha lipoic acid seems to actually change the metabolism of the nerve or blood supply to the nerve, and we noted some relief in symptoms."

We hope that further research will find new efficient ways to treat diabetic neuropathy. Till then, do all you can to prevent it: control your blood sugar level, eat healthy, do exercise and take Alpha Lipoic Acid supplements.

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