Diabetic neuropathy is a group of nerve disorders caused by diabetes. Over a period of time, diabetics may develop nerve damage throughout the body including heart, digestive tract, and reproductive system. The risk of diabetic neuropathy increases with age, chronic diabetes, blood pressure, high cholesterol and uncontrolled blood sugar levels. Diabetic neuropathy is broadly classified into four types- Peripheral neuropathy, Autonomic neuropathy, Proximal neuropathy and Focal neuropathy.
Causes
Metabolic factors
Autoimmune factors
Neurovascular factors
Nerve injury
Lifestyle
Symptoms
Numbness, pain, tingling in feet, hands, arms, toes and fingers
Indigestion, nausea, vomiting
Diarrhea or constipation
Dizziness
Weakness
Sexual dysfunction
Diet For Diabetic Neuropathy
A healthy diet for diabetic neuropathy includes various foods that aid to control blood sugar. Oatmeal, barley, brown rice, soya bean and most of the whole grains has a high amount of soluble fiber.
It also involves plenty of steamed sprouts and vegetables which are low on carbohydrates such as broccoli, spinach, bottle gourd, okra and green beans in the diet. On the contrary, one might need to cut down on high carbohydrate vegetables such as peas, potatoes, and corn.
Eat complex carbohydrates instead of simple carbohydrates. It is necessary to consume complex carbohydrates for their beneficial vitamins, fiber, and minerals.
Low-fat vegan diet helps the diabetic neuropathy patients to manage the ailment by lowering the bad cholesterol levels, reducing weight and hence helps manage diabetic neuropathy.
Garlic and onion help in reducing blood sugar level in people with diabetes and hence is beneficial or treating diabetic neuropathy.
Begin the day with nuts like almonds, walnuts or flaxseed as it contains omega 3 fatty acid.
Consume fruits such as apple, papaya, pear, fig, all berries, orange, and Indian blackberry which are low on sugar and high on fiber.
Buttermilk, coconut water, and green salad are beneficial in diabetes neuropathy.
Include antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, zinc and chromium in the diet.
Avoid excess of salt, sugar and fat. Refrain from red meat, whole milk and milk products, white flour, food with high glycemic index, alcohol, and packed juices.
Herbs For Diabetic Neuropathy
Cayenne pepper contains capsaicin, a topical pain reliever that can help reduce discomfort from Neuropathy. Capsaicin works by curbing substance P, a pain-causing chemical from nerve receptors.
Cayenne pepper helps to cure trigeminal neuralgia facial neuropathy, diabetic neuropathy, and diabetic retinopathy. It is a panacea herb for diabetic neuropathy.
Green tea is a good option over tea or coffee. Green tea actually helps in regulating glucose levels and slowing down the rise of blood sugar after eating. This can prevent high insulin spikes and result in fat storage. The compounds polyphenols and polysaccharides present in green tea are useful to curb both diabetes and diabetic neuropathy.
Cinnamon has significant benefits in type 2 diabetes. It helps the body respond to insulin, thus normalizing blood sugar levels. Certain compounds in cinnamon stimulate insulin receptors and inhibit an enzyme that blocks them thus improving the ability of cells to use glucose and curbs the adverse effect of diabetes-like neuropathy.
Bilberry leaves are traditionally used for regulating blood glucose in diabetics. According to a research, bilberry is also useful in the treatment of retinopathy, damage to the retina of the eye due to chronic high blood sugar or high blood pressure and neuropathy or nerve damage due to diabetes.
Ginseng is another vital herb for diabetic neuropathy as it decreases the intensity of problems caused by neuropathy by maintaining the normal levels of insulin and lowering the blood sugar level.
Juniper berries are very effective in curing diabetic neuropathy by regulating the sugar levels of diabetics. Juniper berries contain anti-inflammatory and hypoglycemic qualities that curb further degeneration of the nerves due to diabetic neuropathy.
Fenugreek is a herb which is used to control diabetes, improve glucose tolerance and prevents diabetic neuropathy due to its hypoglycemic activity. It prevents nerve damage and protects it from worsening any further. It also stimulates the secretion of glucose-dependent insulin. The high fiber content slows down the absorption of carbohydrates and sugars.
Bitter melon a vegetable is also used as an anti-diabetic herb that possesses various antioxidant advantages which actually helps in reducing adverse effects of high glucose level in diabetic neuropathy. It inhibits the oxidation process which protects the nerves from being damaged and prevents the worsening of diabetic neuropathy.
Make use of these wonderful herbs for diabetic neuropathy to combat symptoms effectively!
