Maximizing Your Diabetic Neuropathy Treatment
Neuropathy is a type of condition known for damage to the nerves in the body, leading to pain, sensory loss, and weakness as primary symptoms. For those whose neuropathy is linked to diabetes, the feet are often the part of the body most affected by neuropathy. If you are one of the people suffering from these symptoms, you’ve likely begun treatment and been told that neuropathy is not curable and can sometimes be difficult to treat. There is no single diabetic neuropathy treatment that can reverse or cure the nerve damage, though many options exist to manage pain and prevent worsening. In addition to these treatments, there are a number of natural and home remedies you can utilize to ensure your treatment is as effective as possible.
Improve Diet and Exercise
With any form of peripheral neuropathy, a healthy diet and consistent exercise are important tools for controlling symptoms and reducing the risk of further damage. However, this is even more important as a part of diabetic neuropathy treatment, as these factors can impact your diabetes, which has a direct effect on symptoms. Both what you do with your body and what you ingest are equally important.
Exercise helps to control and lower blood sugar, the main factor impacting diabetes. The American Diabetes Association recommends 150 minutes, or two and a half hours, of moderate-intensity exercise per week for an adult with diabetes. In addition to a normal exercise routine, it can help to take a break from sitting every 30 minutes or so in order to get your blood flowing and some activity in for the day. In addition to helping with blood sugar, exercise can also keep your heart healthy and control blood pressure and blood flow, which contribute to neuropathy symptoms. If you have decreased feeling in your legs or feet, you may need to work with your doctor to find exercises that can be safely done.
Eating a balanced diet is also important in maintaining good blood sugar and staying healthy with diabetes. A balanced diet, including a variety of foods, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, can help your body stay healthy during diabetic neuropathy treatment. Limiting portion sizes can also be important to maintaining a healthy weight. In addition to cutting out certain foods that are heavy in sugar or carbohydrates, adding in some ingredients may help as well. Cayenne pepper contains capsaicin, which is known for its pain relief and can be incorporated easily into healthy proteins and vegetables.
Cut Out Bad Habits
There are a number of reasons that smoking cigarettes is bad for your health and quitting will be beneficial- including that it improves the chances of relief from your diabetic neuropathy treatment. Smoking negatively impacts your blood circulation, causing blood vessels to narrow and less oxygenated blood to flow through. A lack of proper circulation can increase both numbness and pain from peripheral neuropathy. Eliminating smoking from your daily life can improve symptoms.
Take Vitamins and Supplements
Your doctor may prescribe medications as a part of your treatment, but there are other natural options you can explore like how vitamins can help with your neuropathy. Some cases of peripheral neuropathy are related to deficiencies in vitamins like Vitamin B, which is essential to nerve health; in other cases, too much of a certain vitamin can be the culprit. Vitamin B usually comes from your meals, but if needed it can also be supplemented. Your doctor can help recommend a dose that avoids toxicity or worsening symptoms. Another important vitamin is Vitamin D, which is usually produced by the skin in response to sunlight. A lack of Vitamin D can also increase pain but be improved with a supplement. Some antioxidants found in food or in the form of supplements can also relieve pain more naturally.
Try Acupuncture
Many people find that acupuncture is a way to relieve painful symptoms without any side effects from the treatment. You may not notice immediate relief from acupuncture, but over time it can be effective. This works by stimulating the body’s pressure points, triggering the nervous system to release chemicals that may alter your experience of pain or pain threshold.
The Right Diabetic Neuropathy Treatment for You
Any natural remedies should be discussed with your doctors as a part of your overall treatment plan to ensure there are no conflicting medications or things that may negatively impact your specific case of the condition. As you work through your treatment plan, taking control of your body and symptoms may help you to feel better both physically and mentally.