Diet changes for diabetic neuropathy

NewsBot · Jun 6, 2015

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A dietary intervention for chronic diabetic neuropathy pain: a randomized controlled pilot study
A E Bunner, C L Wells, J Gonzales, U Agarwal, E Bayat and N D Barnard1
Nutrition & Diabetes (2015) 5, e158; doi:10.1038/nutd.2015.8

Background: Diabetic neuropathy is a common and often debilitating condition for which available treatments are limited. Because a low-fat plant-based diet has been shown to improve glycemic control in individuals with type 2 diabetes, we hypothesized that such a diet would reduce painful symptoms of diabetic neuropathy.
Methods: In this 20-week pilot study, individuals with type 2 diabetes and painful diabetic neuropathy were randomly assigned to two groups. The intervention group was asked to follow a low-fat, plant-based diet, with weekly classes for support in following the prescribed diet, and to take a vitamin B12 supplement. The control group was asked to take the same vitamin B12 supplement, but received no other intervention. At baseline, midpoint and 20 weeks, clinical, laboratory and questionnaire data were collected. Questionnaires included an analog ‘worst pain’ scale, Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument, global impression scale, Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire, Neuropathy Total Symptom Score, a weekly pain diary and Norfolk Quality of Life Questionnaire.
Results: After 20 weeks, body weight change with the intervention was −6.4 kg (95% confidence interval (CI) −9.4 to −3.4, P<0.001) in an effect size analysis. Electrochemical skin conductance in the foot improved by an average of 12.4 microseimens (95% CI 1.2–23.6, P=0.03) with the intervention in an effect size analysis. The between-group difference in change in pain, as measured by the McGill pain questionnaire, was −8.2 points (95% CI −16.1 to −0.3, P=0.04). Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument questionnaire score change was −1.6 points (95% CI −3.0 to −0.2, P=0.03).
Conclusions: Improvements were seen in some clinical and pain measures. This pilot study suggests the potential value of a plant-based diet intervention, including weekly support classes, for treating painful diabetic neuropathy.
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Admin2 · Jun 6, 2015

Related Threads:
Better nutrition boosts diabetic foot outcomes
Amino Acid Supplementation in Diabetic Foot Wounds
Nutritional status deteriorates as the severity of diabetic foot ulcers increases

BEN-HUR · Jun 7, 2015

Interesting study/paper above. As 'Admin2' cited, this interesting topic has been discussed in the:
"Better nutrition boosts diabetic foot outcomes" thread... & in particular to Neuropathy - this post... where I referenced Dr Neal Barnard material (as well as other research associated with neuropathy). I see Dr Neal Barnard is also associated with the above cited research: Nutrition & Diabetes (2015) 5, e158; doi:10.1038/nutd.2015.8

I think I have been associated with about 2 - 3 Neuropathy drug research trails with my patients... all were cut short due to adverse side effects!

I have been familiar with Dr Neal Barnard's work with improving Diabetes outcome (which includes Diabetic Neuropathy) via plant based nutrition for quite a while... & the science is stacking up... but unfortunately this research is not reaching G.Ps (at least not in Australia from what I've experienced)... & subsequently to Diabetic (Type 2) patients. Yes, it involves a lifestyle change (i.e. a diet change -> to plant based)... & it would seem apparent that most people are willing to pop a drug (with adverse side effects) than change their diet & receive the many documented positive side effects (i.e. weight drop, lowered cholesterol, improved cardiovascular status, Type 2 D.M reversal, increased longevity etc...).

I'm not sure what B-12 supplement they used, but out of interest it is best (i.e. safer, more bioavailable) to use the higher quality Methylcobalamin form as opposed to the regular Cyanocobalamin (slightly toxic cyanide) form. The better methods of administration are 1/ injections; 2/ sublingual (under tongue) & 3/ skin absorption (i.e. patches)... with Methylcobalamin B-12 patches probably the better all-round option (along with B-12 fortified food).

Recently submitted a post (here) relating to other potential benefits associated with a plant based diet which potentially has implications on this topic (i.e. exercise-induced oxidative stress ameliorates type 2 Diabetes Mellitus & insulin resistance... in relation to mega-dose antioxidant supplements... & subsequent plant based antioxidants) - in the "Increased Circulating Anti-inflammatory Cells in Marathon-trained Runners" thread.

BEN-HUR · Jun 10, 2015

Interesting study on vitamin D status in relation to Diabetic Neuropathy...

Low Vitamin D Levels Common in Painful Diabetic Neuropathy:

BOSTON — Painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy is associated with significantly reduced vitamin D levels, independent of sunlight exposure, a new study finds.

The study, presented here at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) 2015 Scientific Sessions, suggests a possible role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis of painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy and therefore a potential role of supplementation in its treatment, pending the results of randomized clinical trials, study author Dinesh Selvarajah, MD, of the University of Sheffield, United Kingdom, told Medscape Medical News.

Previous studies demonstrating a link between low vitamin D and neuropathy have not accounted for seasonal differences in vitamin D nor for activity variations that affect vitamin D exposure. This is the first study to carefully control for those factors, Dr Selvarajah noted.

"We've certainly got a smoking gun. We've got a proof of concept. Now we need to do an intervention study to show whether this is a significant finding, because if it is, it's a simple enough treatment," he said.

Cont...
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Found the following interesting (& frustrating)...

Dr Malik noted that a large randomized clinical trial of vitamin D would probably have to be funded by the government or other interested party rather than the pharmaceutical industry. "The key problem is, nobody is going to make money from vitamin D [research and development], so nobody's pushing it. It's extremely cheap."
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Diet changes for diabetic neuropathy

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Diet changes for diabetic neuropathy

NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

Admin2 Administrator Staff Member

BEN-HUR Well-Known Member

BEN-HUR Well-Known Member

Clubfoot in in Loeys-Dietz Syndrome

indicates that a person is morbidly obese. How many c pro diet reviews

"You cannot outrun a bad diet"

Plantar fasciitis and a gluten free diet

Increased Nerve Fiber Density In Diabetic Neuropathy Patients After Dietary Management

BSLs diet and ulcer healing rates

Any Science Behind the Hype of 'Natural' Dietary Supplements?

Share This Page

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