Some people with diabetes have a painful condition known as peripheral neuropathy that causes numbness, tingling, burning and shooting pains in the hands and especially the feet. About 60 to 70 percent of diabetics have reported some degree of neuropathy, according to According to DiabeticLiving.com. Diabetic neuropathy may manifest as a painless condition in the beginning, but usually it presents with numbness and burning pain. There is a variety of treatments you can use to find relief.
Step 1
Manage pain by checking your glucose levels regularly and keeping blood sugar stable, advises Dr. Robert Gerwin, a specialist in pain management at Johns Hopkins University.
Step 2
Use topical applications such as capsaicin, a cream made from red chili peppers, that is said to help relieve neuropathy pains, according to Dr. Ed Ross, a pain management specialist. The compounds in capsaicin bind to pain receptors, helping to reduce pain levels over time.
Step 3
Add omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to your diet, either by eating fish such as salmon or taking supplements. These fats found in fish oil help relieve pain and inflammation.
Step 4
Try one or more holistic treatments to treat your peripheral neuropathy, such as Chinese herbs and acupuncture. Used correctly, acupuncture can help release trapped energy in the body, helping to relieve pain pathways. Chinese medicine has been shown to reduce stress hormones, leading to a decrease in inflammation, according to Dr. Kent Holtorf. Less inflammation means less pain transmitted.
Step 5
Add a B complex vitamin and inositol to your diet. Researchers reported a significant reduction of neuropathies during a study at the University of Alabama that included high levels of inositol in participants' diets. Dr. Robert Atkins has also reported that adding inositol to the diet of diabetics helps reduce the occurrence of peripheral neuropathies.
Step 6
Discuss your case with a qualified homeopath to find a homeopathic remedy to help you with your pain. Each person's symptoms are individual, so there is no standard remedy for everyone. According to William Boericke in his book "Materia Medica with Repertory," certain homeopathic remedies, such as plumbum, agaricus and pulsatilla, have been known to help relieve neuropathy pain.
Step 7
Visit your physician if you are unable to find relief. He may be able to prescribe medicine to help relieve your diabetic nerve pain.
Tips and Warnings
- Wear shoes whose toe box is large enough not to put pressure on your toes. Sit with your legs uncrossed to encourage proper blood flow.
- See your doctor immediately if you have dark blue or black spots on your feet or toes.
Things You'll Need
- Capsaicin
- Omega fatty acid supplements
- Chinese herbs
- B complex vitamins
- Inositol
References
- DiabeticLiving.com: Stop the Pain of Diabetic Neuropathy
- Neuropathy: Nutrient Therapies
- Materia Medica with Repertory; William Boericke; 1987
