How to Treat Diabetic Nerve Pain

Diabetes mellitus is a relentless medical disorder capable of adversely affecting the entire body. Among the most common and disabling problems associated with diabetes is diabetic nerve pain. Poor blood sugar control causes impaired blood flow to the body's nervous system. This compromise in blood circulation leads to the gradual deterioration and destruction of nerves particularly in the feet and legs of a diabetic. The result is diabetic nerve pain as well as numbness, tingling and burning. It's important that diabetics understand how to treat diabetic nerve pain.

Keep your blood sugars well controlled to prevent and treat diabetic nerve pain. High blood sugars play a critical role in causing diabetic neuropathy.

Quit smoking to prevent and treat diabetic nerve pain. Tobacco smoke damages blood vessels and prevents adequate circulation to the nervous system.

Try to engage in regular weight bearing aerobic exercise. In addition to helping control blood sugars exercise helps to stimulate and preserve blood flow to the lower extremities.

Make sure your blood pressure is well controlled; if not, ask your doctor about starting you on a class of blood pressure medication known as ACE inhibitors. ACE inhibitors help to dilate blood vessels which increases neuronal blood flow. Increasing blood flow to nerves is the best way to prevent and treat diabetic nerve pain.

Taking the antioxidant supplement alpha lipoic acid has been shown in several small studies to help treat diabetic nerve pain.

Investigate photo energy therapy to treat diabetic nerve pain. Near infrared light is focused on the legs and feet to stimulate the local release of nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide causes vasodilator of the damaged microvascular system which leads to improved blood flow.

Discuss prescription medications with your doctor to treat diabetic nerve pain. Currently only two medications have received FDA approval for the treatment of diabetic nerve pain; however, many others including antidepressant and antiepileptic medications are routinely utilized.

*  Diabetic neuropathy is extremely complicated and difficult to manage. It is much easier to prevent than to treat.
*  Without meticulous diabetic control diabetic nerve pain typically progresses.
*  The risk for developing diabetic nerve pain increases with the duration of diabetes.

*  Approximately 25 percent of diabetics experience diabetic nerve pain.
*  Diabetic neuropathy is directly responsible for at least 50 percent of diabetic amputations.