Contributing factors to diabetic nerve damage can include:
• High Cholesterol and High levels of blood fats - LDL cholesterol also known as "bad cholesterol" has been identified as the source of fatty build up (plaque) in arteries, veins and blood vessels resulting in decreased blood flow to the parts of the body they supply, including nerve tissues. Low levels of HDL cholesterol "good cholesterol" and high levels of triglycerides are frequently associated with type 2 diabetes.
• High blood sugar/Poorly Controlled Diabetes - Another contributing factor in diabetic neuropathy is when someone poorly manages their diabetes over a period of years by failing to properly monitor and manage blood sugar (glucose) levels. This damages the blood vessels that supply nerve tissues.
• High blood pressure - As mentioned above hyperglycemia can damage and weaken blood vessels. The smaller the blood vessels are the more vulnerable to damage the are, and high blood pressure (hypertension) can cause blood vessels that have been weakened to expand and burst (this occurs in retinopathy as well). This reduces or blocks the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to cells supplied by those blood vessels which can lead to the damage or death of those cells.
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Smoking - The health risks of smoking are too numerous to list here, but someone with diabetes is only adding fuel to an already smoldering flame if they choose to smoke. Here are some of the risks of smoking that are most likely to affect the nerves in a diabetic patient. 1. Smoking decreases the amount of oxygen that reaches the cells of the body (including nerve cells). 2. Constricts and damages blood vessels, impeding blood flow and slowing the healing process. 3. Increases cholesterol levels in the blood stream that can build on blood vessel walls causing blockages (plaque). 4. Increases blood glucose levels making it more difficult to keep diabetes under control (excess glucose can damage blood vessels). 5. Smoking increases blood pressure.
• Vitamin deficiencies - Deficiencies in certain vitamins can cause or contribute to neuropathy, particularly a deficiency in thiamine (B1) which can cause painful neuropathy in the extremities. Other vitamins that are essential to healthy nerve functions are vitamins E, B6, B12, and niacin.
• Alcoholism - Excessive alcohol abuse is believed by some researchers to have a direct contribution to nerve damage and is commonly referred to as "alcoholic neuropathy". Alcohol is also very high in sugar which contributes to an elevation in blood glucose levels and the effects of hyperglycemia. People who abuse alcohol often have vitamin deficiencies as well (thiamine in particular), because they are more likely to have poor nutritional habits in addition to alcoholism.
• Kidney/liver diseases/disorders - If the kidneys are not properly filtering the waste products from the bloodstream, it could lead to abnormally high levels of toxins that can cause severe damage to nerve tissues. Some liver diseases can also result in chemical imbalances that can affect nerve tissues and may lead to neuropathies.
• Chemicals and toxins in the environment - Certain toxic substances such as arsenic, thallium, mercury and lead are frequently associated with the development of neuropathy. Because of the increases in pollution over the last century, there are numerous ongoing studies being conducted to isolate many other toxins and chemicals to see how they can affect nerve tissues.
Preventing Diabetic neuropathy or alleviating its symptoms:
Although the exact manner in which it occurs is still not entirely understood, peripheral nerves do have the ability to regenerate if the nerve cell has not died. So recovery may be possible if caught in time, but depending on the type and severity of neuropathy, the length of time it was left undiagnosed and untreated, it could take weeks, months and even years. A few simple lifestyle changes may help to prevent diabetic neuropathy, significantly reduce the impact it has on your life or create the conditions needed to promote nerve regeneration.
The first and most important action you can take is to see your physician and be tested for neuropathy, because between sixty and seventy percent of diabetics have signs of neuropathy that are only detectable through a physical exam and special tests. Other things you can do include:
• Keep your blood glucose under control - People that intensively maintain blood glucose levels can reduce the risk of developing neuropathy by as much as sixty percent according to the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial.
• Smoking and Alcohol - The risks of smoking and alcohol as listed above should be evidence that quitting smoking and limiting, or avoiding alcohol will go a long way to improving health and reducing the risks of neuropathy as well as to help alleviate and improve symptoms.
• Exercise - Following a well planned, physician approved exercise program can improve muscular strength, help to reduce cramping and help to prevent or reverse atrophy in limbs affected by neuropathy. Exercise also improves cardiovascular health which can ensure that oxygen and nutrients are getting to nerves tissues and the parts of the body they are needed most.
• Improve dietary habits - Eating a well balanced diet will improve your nutritional intake, correct vitamin deficiencies, help to maintain an optimal weight and can improve gastrointestinal symptoms. Reducing or eliminating processed foods loaded with HDL cholesterol, fats, preservatives salts and sugars will also help to keep your body "clean".
• Supplement your diet with key vitamins - Vitamins identified as essential to nerve functions are vitamins E, B6, B12, B1 (Thiamine) and Niacin. Studies have also shown that evening primrose oil and Alpha-lipoic acid may also improve nerve functions and help to relieve symptoms.
• Try eating organic whenever possible - We believe that it is possible to treat diabetes naturally and it is our personal view that when it comes to food, ANYTHING artificial put into the body cannot be good for it. It only stands to reason that our bodies are part of the natural world, so what we choose to put into our bodies should also naturally occur in the foods we eat. You should also try to get your vitamin supplementation from organic sources and whole food supplements. This isn't to say that someone cannot enjoy a little "junk food" from time to time, just as long as moderation is observed, but this all gets back to someone's personal choices.
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