If you are a diabetic, the odds are you already have some form of nerve damage. Diabetic neuropathy, or nerve damage, is common in people with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. I once treated a diabetic patient referred to me by a diabetes specialist. She asked me to treat a nerve problem the woman was experiencing.
I recommended, among other things, a high-dose supplement of B vitamins. I learned that the specialist later told her not to take them. She informed her that all they would do was make her toilet water expensive! I was absolutely shocked that a diabetes specialist didn’t know about the B vitamins and their beneficial effects on diabetic nerve damage.
The nervous system (that includes nerves themselves) is highly dependent on the B vitamins for proper function. (For tips on lowering your risk of diabetes, read my special report "The Diabetes Solution.")
Bruce Ames — one of the world’s foremost experts on molecular biology and free radicals — conducted a study showing that with age and in certain disease states, our enzymes do not work as well. He found that by significantly increasing the dose of B vitamins, it was possible to kick-start them into operating efficiently again.
On hearing of this, I immediately thought of the diabetic specialist and her ridiculous advice.
Diabetes affects nerves in a variety of ways. One diabetic reaction involves free radicals and lipid peroxidation products. And the disorder can also wreak havoc by taking advantage of a special metabolic pathway.
But antioxidant vitamins and flavonoids protect the nerves and allow them to recover. And other metabolic supplements have been shown to speed and enhance nerve healing, especially in diabetics. These include alpha-lipoic acid, acetyl-L carnitine, CoQ10, N-acetyl-L cysteine (NAC), DHA, and vitamin E. My special report "Key Vitamins that Save Your Heart, Prevent Cancer and Keep You Living Long"will give you all the details.
Symptoms of nerve damage in diabetics include:
• Tingling and burning pains (pins-and-needles feeling)
• Lightning-fast shooting pains
• Numbness
• Inability to feel temperature of bath water
• Ulceration
• Sensation of skin burning when touched
These symptoms mostly affect the feet and legs, and can be prevented by controlling blood sugar.
For more of Dr. Blaylock’s weekly tips, go here to view the archive.
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