Is it possible to reverse Diabetic Neuropathy naturally?
Diabetic Neuropathy is the most common and least understood problem with 50% of diabetic patients worldwide. People can stop the progression of diabetic neuropathy naturally at an earlier stage, and it may require a combined therapy in later stages. Complete reversing of diabetic neuropathy in natural ways is impossible, but somehow, you can overcome the complications associated with it and lead a healthy life.
The natural ways include lifestyle changes, dietary management, exercises, yoga, and other natural therapies such as acupuncture & foot reflexology that can halt the nerve damage progression and improve measures of neuropathy.
What is Diabetic Neuropathy?
Diabetic neuropathy refers to diabetic-induced nerve damage, which primarily affects diabetic patients on the foot and hand.
Nerves are the sensitive organs of our body; once damaged, they cannot be reversed. The damage is often progressive, resulting in pain, foot ulcers, loss of sensation, gangrene, and amputations if not managed at the earlier stage.
Diabetic neuropathy patients often report a poor quality of life, sleep deprivation, and depression due to neuropathic pain and other associated symptoms.
The four primary types of Diabetic Neuropathy include
- Peripheral Neuropathy – Peripheral Neuropathy affects the arms and legs mainly due to injuries, high exposure to toxins, nutrition deficiency, autoimmune disorders, alcoholism, medications & primarily diabetes.
- Proximal Neuropathy – It is a type of nerve damage that mainly occurs in your hip, thigh, and buttock and only affects a single side of your body.
- Autonomic Neuropathy – It affects the nervous system in which you do not have control (Internal Organs).
- Focal Neuropathy– It involves damaging single nerves rather than affecting trapped nerves
Management of Diabetic Neuropathy Naturally
People firmly believe that medication and insulin therapy are the best way to control sugar levels in our body which is not entirely true. Various studies have proven that lifestyle intervention can significantly improve glycemic control.
Unlike drugs, the natural ways won’t give you immediate results, but they have proven effective in the long run compared to medications. The same applies to reversing diabetic neuropathy.
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Lifestyle Modification
Healthy lifestyle changes like dietary modification and physical activity in patients with diabetes and diabetic neuropathy will confer multiple benefits and are generally low risk.
Accept the condition
Denial is the first thing you should have to overcome. Accept you have a specific condition and have to live with it. Rather than getting depressed, think about how to cope. Stick with a strict plan, either medication or natural ways, and consistency is the key here.
Avoid risk factors
- Abstain from cigarette smoking. There is an increased risk of developing diabetic neuropathy for smokers compared with non-smokers. Smoking damage the body’s large and micro blood vessels, which leads to nerve damage and progression of neuropathy.
- Alcohol abuse may cause inflammation in the pancreas, which can diminish its ability to secrete insulin.
- Poor blood sugar control significantly increases the risk of development and progression of diabetic neuropathy over time.
- Overweight and a sedentary lifestyle lead to the development and progression of diabetic neuropathy.
Exercise for Diabetic Neuropathy
Regular physical activity reduces body weight, improves insulin sensitivity, and reduces the risk of developing neuropathy in diabetic patients.
According to studies, there are four preferred types of exercises available.
Aerobic exercise
Brisk walk
Swimming
Stationary bike
Resistance exercise
Chest press
Seated row
Functional training
Stair climbing
Mind-Body exercise
Yoga and Taichi
How does exercise help to prevent complications?
Exercise prevents the build of plaque which is the leading cause of atherosclerosis (deposition of fat in the arteries). Atherosclerosis is the primary factor in the development of obesity, hypertension, stroke, and diabetic neuropathy.
Exercise improves insulin activity up to 72 hrs which helps to utilize the sugar in muscle without insulin. It offers long-term benefits such as reducing the bad cholesterol level in the blood and blood pressure.
A recent trial in patients with type 2 diabetes involved in an exercise intervention reported reversal of DN and results in nerve fibre regeneration compared to the loss of nerve fibres.
Yogasanas for Diabetic Neuropathy
Diabetic neuropathy affects the sensory nervous system, due to which people with diabetic neuropathy have impaired balance.
Loss of balance increases the risk of falls and associated injuries. According to studies, Hip fractures are more common among people with diabetic neuropathy.
Yogic asanas are being helpful to people since ancient times in improving positional awareness, balancing, and muscle flexibility and strength.
A recent study explored the following yogic poses yielded a good result in patients with diabetic neuropathy.
- Vrikshasana
- Utkatasana
- Padhastasana
- Tadasana
- Virabhadrasana
- Natrajasana
- Ardhachandrasanas
- Garudasana
Dietary Modification
Choose diabetic-friendly foods to manage blood sugar in the body. Foods with low-calorie carbs, proteins, low-fats, fruits, vegetables, and fibres are diabetic-friendly foods.
Excess carbohydrate consumption increases the sugar level in the body, which damages micro blood vessels leading to a degeneration of nerves.
Avoid soft drinks. A recent study reveals vast amounts of high fructose corn syrup used in the production of soft drinks, which increase blood glucose levels and Body Mass Index to alarming levels.
Always prefer small meals over heavy meals and take foods with a low glycemic index value (less than 55), such as fruits, non-starchy veg, and legumes.
Antioxidants play an essential role in the successful treatment of diabetic neuropathy. Take foods that are high in antioxidants, such as berries, cabbage, beans, and spinach.
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Get Proper Sleep
Sleep is like a whole day debt that you should repay by sleeping, and if you didn’t repay it sufficiently, it accumulates, resulting in poor daytime function and severe physical and mental problems.
Poor sleep leads to poor diabetic control. The body releases several essential metabolic hormones (growth hormone & prolactin) in various stages of sleep, and it will be interrupted if you have reduced sleep.
Moreover, lack of sleep has a potential link with diabetes and prediabetes. It increases the blood sugar level due to cortisol, insulin, and oxidative stress.
How to improve sleep hygiene?
- Light exposure near bedtime delays sleep.
- Avoid taking caffeinated drinks before bed.
- Walking is the best activity before bed.
- Keep your bedroom as aesthetic, like dark & calm.
If you have reduced sleep (less than 5 hours in a day), seek medical attention.
Care for your foot
Diabetic foot is the most dangerous complication of diabetes, which may lead to amputations. Give due care for your feet, and several studies have confirmed regular physical activity with a structured exercise schedule can prevent diabetic foot.
Shoes for diabetic neuropathy
As per estimation, diabetic-related foot infections cause 60000-70000 amputations per year. Better foot care prevents this risk.
Good and well-shaped shoes are essential to protect your foot.
Routinely check your feet for any infection or damage.
Drugs for Diabetic Neuropathy
According to ADA (American diabetic association), pregabalin and gabapentin are the first-line drugs for diabetic neuropathy.
Final glimpse
Glucose control and pain management in natural ways is the effective treatment option for DN.
“Best ways to prevent the progression of diabetic neuropathy is to be physically and mentally active.”
Key Points
- Strict glucose control can delay the onset or slow the progression of diabetic Neuropathy, but there is an increased risk of hypoglycaemic events.
- Patients with prediabetes or early diabetes mellitus and Neuropathy should be offered dietary and exercise counseling.
- Yogasanas are helpful to patients with DN for improving positional awareness, balancing, and muscle flexibility and strength.
- Lack of sleep is a significant factor that contributes to major metabolic abnormalities, especially diabetes and diabetic neuropathy.
- Abstain from cigarette smoking and excess consumption of alcohol to halt the progression of diabetic neuropathy.
- Avoid soft drinks. High fructose corn syrup used in the production of soft drinks increases blood glucose levels and Body Mass Index to dangerous levels.
- Exercise improves insulin activity up to 72 hrs which helps to utilize the sugar in muscle without insulin.
- Always prefer small meals over heavy meals and take foods with a low glycaemic index value (less than 55), such as fruits, non-starchy veg, and legumes.
- First-line agents for treating painful diabetic Neuropathy include amitriptyline, venlafaxine, duloxetine, gabapentin, and pregabalin.
Related posts you may wish to read
1.Painful diabetic neuropathy: an update
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4116956
2.Effect of Yogasana Intervention on Standing Balance Performance among People with Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: A Pilot Study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33840978/
3.Diabetic Foot and Exercise Therapy: Step by Step The Role of Rigid Posture and Biomechanics Treatment
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5750747/
4.Physical activity and dietary interventions in diabetic neuropathy: a systematic review
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6697618/
5.Antioxidant strategies in the management of diabetic neuropathy
