Diabetes is an all too familiar experience for many Americans. 10% of the U.S. population has diabetes, that’s over 30 million people, while one in three Americans have pre-diabetes. That means between Dr. Rob, Dr. Pat, and myself, one of us will develop pre-diabetes. Except we actually won’t because we are the pinnacle of health.
People don’t often associate diabetes with chiropractic care.
I know! It’s like they don’t realize that chiropractic care is a drug-free, whole-body approach to healthcare that seeks to optimize nervous system function to prevent injury and disease.
One of the most common complications from diabetes is neuropathy. Diabetic neuropathy, or peripheral neuropathy depending on who’s talking, is a chronic condition that most often affects the nerves running through the limbs, hands, and feet as a result of the body not using insulin properly. As a chiropractor for neuropathy in Springfield, IL, I know that diabetic neuropathy can snowball out of control and lead to more serious complications. And not a snowball like this:
It’s more like this:
About 60%-70% of diabetics experience some form of neuropathy. For some, it’s only mild symptoms like numbness and tingling in the limbs – though that doesn’t sound mild to me – for others, neuropathy causes pain, digestive issues, cardiac problems, the inability to live life normally, and if the organs are affecting badly enough, even death.
Just like diabetes, there is no “cure” for peripheral neuropathy, but there are ways to manage and stop its progression. Dr. Nick to the rescue! Chiropractors are nervous system experts, so it makes sense that a condition affecting nerve function would be right up our alley. Here are 8 natural remedies for diabetic neuropathy.
1. Manage Blood Sugar Levels
People with diabetes know the importance of monitoring and managing healthy blood sugar levels. This is one of the best things to prevent permanent damage and control neuropathy symptoms.
According to research done by this diabetic…
…poor blood sugar increases the risk of peripheral neuropathy. Among complications of diabetes, neuropathy accounts for the most hospitalizations and is the most frequent cause of non-traumatic amputations. I’m not even sure what “non-traumatic amputations” means, it seems like an oxymoron. Regular blood glucose level testing, consuming a healthy diet, exercising, and working with a doctor to determine the right diabetes medicine is the best way to keep blood sugar levels in a healthy range.
2. Eat a Healthy Diet
Diet is a perennial spot holder on these types of lists. That’s because the type of fuel we consume determines how our engine runs. There isn’t a single Mercedes owner alive that puts regular gas into their car. I once suggested such to the owner of a Mercedes E 350 and they looked at me like I was some sort of street urchin. A street rat, if you will.
Diet has a direct impact on blood sugar levels, so it is the logical starting place when managing diabetic symptoms. As always, a good diet should revolve around unprocessed, high-fiber whole foods and limit the amount of refined carbs and added sugars.
- Whole fruits and vegetables – rich in antioxidants, fiber, vitamins, and essential minerals
- Wild-caught fish: omega-3 fatty acids lower triglycerides and apoproteins
- Healthy fats: coconut oil, olive oil, nuts, seeds, and avocado
- Lean protein: grass-fed beef, pasture-raised poultry, cage-free eggs
Opting for stevia over table sugar, limiting sodium intake, staying hydrated, keeping an eye on portions, and sticking to a consistent meal schedule are great ways to use diet to fuel vibrant health and reduce the risk of diabetic complications.
We are the Mercedes and we deserve premium!
3. Exercise
I’m not going to linger too long here because Lord knows I’m not the first person to talk about the importance of regular exercise. Exercise helps:
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Control blood sugar
- Manage high blood pressure
- Increase strength
- Improve flexibility
- Reduce cholesterol
- Improve circulation
- Lower stress levels
Not to mention its effects on our energy, happiness, and confidence, and it helps us live longer by making us less susceptible to disease. Who doesn’t want to live longer??
Just 30-60 minutes of exercise a day of low-impact exercises helps the body respond to insulin and lower blood glucose, maybe even to the point of needing less diabetic medication.
4. Reduce Exposure to Toxins and Quit Smoking
It’s 2022 and somehow smoking has become cool again. It may have had something to do with people’s stress levels the last couple of years, but it is a troubling trend.
People with neuropathy are more likely to develop problems with their kidneys, like kidney stones or kidney disease, which is why it is critical to take pressure off the kidneys by preventing the accumulation of toxins – like pesticides, household cleaners, beauty products, necessary prescriptions or antibiotics, too much alcohol, and…
5. Manage Stress
As I mentioned above it’s 2022, stress is running amok.
Stress makes inflammation worse. Chronic inflammation leads to disease and raises the risk of diabetic complications. Finding reliable ways to manage our daily stress is one of the most important lifelong pursuits. Exercise, meditation, prayer, nature, being with family, acupuncture, heck I’ve purchased an adult coloring book a time or two – whatever works to ease our minds will also help relieve pain and ease neuropathy symptoms safely.
6. Reduce Pain Naturally
In another study performed by our resident diabetic
Nick discovered there are several natural anti-inflammatories and antioxidants that help stop nerve damage from progressing and help lower pain.
- Alpha-lipoic acid and Chromium: improves insulin sensitivity
- Evening primrose oil: lowers neuropathy numbness, tingling, and burning
- Cinnamon: stabilizes blood sugar
- Omega-3 fish oil: lowers inflammation
- Vitamin B12: a common vitamin deficiency in diabetics
- Essential Oils: help dull pain and lower inflammation
7. Protect Skin and Feet
The skin and feet are the primary areas affected by neuropathy. Keep an eye out for new injuries, blisters, sores, or ulcers. Make sure to keep feet and toenails clean, especially in areas where bacteria buildup may cause an infection. Wear clean socks, keep delicate skin out of extreme temperatures, cut toenails, file corns, jeez I sound like my mother.
8. Chiropractic Care for Neuropathy
Saving the best for last as no list of natural remedies is complete with chiropractic care. A healthy life is impossible without a healthy central nervous system as it controls every single function in our body.
Chiropractic care is one of the best ways to optimize our nervous system and keep it in tip-top shape. Chiropractors are the only healthcare experts who are specially trained to identify and correct the spinal misalignments that interfere with the nervous system’s ability to do its job. If the body and brain can’t communicate with each other we can expect something akin to this:
In addition to the spine, chiropractors adjust other joints like the feet and hands, where neuropathy symptoms usually affect people. Regular chiropractic adjustments help dilute pain and other symptoms and send a flood of nerve signals to the brain so that it can do its job with greater ease and efficiency.
Neuropathy is a progressive condition, it will get worse over time unless something is done to stop the damage. Pain medication can’t fix the problem, it can only mask the symptoms. Chiropractic treatment creates the right environment for the body to heal and manage pain. Call us or schedule a time to meet with one of our amazing doctors so that we can begin that healing process together.