Treating Diabetic Neuropathy Pain

Living with Diabetes 

Diabetes is more than just an abnormal spike of glucose levels that your body is not able to control. It also involves a host of other complications such as depression, high risk of infections, blindness, and even nerve pain.  Nearly 50% of people who have diabetes suffer from nerve pain, and its presence can alter a person’s normal sleep pattern as well as their overall emotional and physical well-being. Many complications due to diabetes appear over time, more so in those who do not control and monitor their blood sugar properly.

What is Diabetic Neuropathy?

Diabetic neuropathy is a pathological complication that creates various forms of nerve injuries when the body is no longer able to utilize a hormone, known as insulin, properly. It can strike anywhere, but it often affects nerves that run through the hands, feet, and limbs where it causes numbness and tingling. It can also cause a sharp, burning or aching pain that may be mild at first, but worsens over time as it spreads. Moving these limbs or walking can become difficult, and even the lightest of touches are unbearable for some.

Treating Pain due to Diabetic Neuropathy

Keeping your blood sugar in check is a definite must if you want to prevent making the condition worse. Other than that you may also try these methods to treat diabetic neuropathy:

• Physical Therapy: Engaging in physical activities such as swimming, cycling, walking and other low impact exercises for 30-60 minutes a day is helpful. It will help control high blood pressure symptoms and blood sugar while improving range of motion and strength. Exercise will help your body respond to insulin and help lower your overall blood glucose levels to the point of reducing or eliminating the need for medication. It also lowers cholesterol, stress, and improves circulation, all of which help ease inflammation and control glucose.

• Take Extra Care of Your Hands and Feet: Maintaining sen
  sation in these areas will become important. Be sure to look for sores, cuts, swelling, and injuries of any kind. No matter how small it may be, they must be addressed before it becomes a bigger problem and gets infected where it can lead to the infection spreading and possibly needing to amputate the area. Be sure to cleanse your hands and feet with warm water, and dry them completely before applying lotion. Also, be sure to wear comfortable shoes that have just enough space for your feet to breathe.

• Use Natural Remedies: There are many natural anti-inflammatory remedies that can help stop nerve injury or prevent it from getting worse such as:

                * Cinnamon: This spices’ job doesn’t just stop at adding flavor to our foods. It can also help regulate blood sugar levels with just two teaspoons a day. Cinnamon oil may also be used as an alternative.

              *Vitamin B12: Many diabetics are found to be deficient in this vitamin, which may cause negative systematic effects on the body that will only
worsen nerve damage. It is best to get a blood test done specifically for this vitamin anytime you are uncertain you are getting enough from your diet.

              * Fish Oil (Omega-3):Fish oil is promoted as being good for the heart, but it can also help fight inflammation when you take at least 1,000mg per day.

              * Alpha lipoic acid: Consuming between 300-1,200mg of this antioxidant rich acid has
 proven to help prevent neuropathy and improve insulin sensitivity.

              * Primrose Oil: Another anti-inflammatory option that decreases numbness, tingling, and burning sensations caused by neuropathy when at least 360mg should be  taken per day to see results. 

             * Essential Oils: A variety of essential oils exist that work wonders by stopping inflammation and pain such as frankincense and peppermint. They should be dilated before applied topically or inhaled. You can take the benefits of essentials anywhere you go when you use an Essential Oils Necklace.

            * Amber: Treating inflammation within the body in a matter of minutes is possible with Baltic Essentials Amber. The succinic acid it contains has powerful anti-inflammatory properties that treat neuropathic pain naturally when it enters the bloodstream. Wearing Baltic Amber also provides soothing analgesic effects that help ease the pain as areas of inflammation are being treated.