Diabetes is a disease where there’s too much sugar in the blood. It can cause a condition called peripheral neuropathy.
This is when there’s weakness, numbness, and pain in the hands and feet.
It’s caused by damage to the nerves in those areas. Half of the people with diabetes get this condition.
The Clue from the Mice
Scientists at the Salk Institute did an experiment with mice that had diabetes.
They found out that the mice with low levels of two types of amino acids were more likely to get peripheral neuropathy. These two amino acids are called serine and glycine.
What are Amino Acids?
Amino acids are like building blocks. They help build proteins and special fat molecules called sphingolipids.
These sphingolipids are very important for the nervous system.
If there is not enough serine, the body has to use a different amino acid to make sphingolipids. This can change their structure and lead to nerve damage.
Connecting the Dots
The researchers found that these different sphingolipids were accumulating in the diabetic mice.
They also found out that the same thing happens in humans who have a rare genetic disease that causes peripheral neuropathy.
This means that the same thing could be happening in people with diabetes.
The Importance of Diet
This research shows how important amino acids are for a healthy nervous system. Eating a healthy diet can make sure the body has enough of these amino acids.
While some amino acids are considered “non-essential” because our body can make them, they still play important roles in our health.
How to Deal with Diabetic Nerve Pain
Nerve pain in diabetes can be difficult to manage. But there are ways to help control the pain. Here are some of them:
Control your blood sugar levels: Keeping your blood sugar levels in check can help prevent or slow down nerve damage.
Take medication: Some medications can help manage nerve pain. They work by blocking pain signals or by changing how the brain feels pain.
Use creams: Some creams can be applied to the skin to reduce pain. They work by blocking pain signals to the brain.
Try TENS therapy: TENS therapy involves using electrical current to stimulate the nerves and block pain signals to the brain.
Exercise regularly: Regular exercise can improve blood flow, reduce inflammation, and relieve stress, which can all help reduce nerve pain.
Take supplements: Some supplements, like alpha-lipoic acid and gamma-linolenic acid, may help reduce nerve pain in diabetes.
Remember, it’s always important to talk to a healthcare provider to figure out the best treatment for you.
This research shows the important role that amino acids play in the health of the nervous system. It also provides a possible new way to identify and treat people who are at high risk for peripheral neuropathy.
Remember, it’s important to eat a healthy diet and manage your blood sugar levels to keep your nerves healthy. The study was conducted by Christian Metallo et al and published in Nature.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about Vitamin D and type 2 diabetes, and what you need to know about avocado and type 2 diabetes.
For more information about diabetes, please see recent studies about How to eat to prevent type 2 diabetes and 5 vitamins that may prevent complications in diabetes.
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