Diabetes, a prevalent disease affecting about 37 million Americans, impairs the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar levels.
If not properly managed, diabetes can lead to complications such as diabetic neuropathy, or nerve damage caused by high blood sugar levels. This condition results in pain and numbness, primarily in the hands and feet.
Approximately half of those with diabetes may experience this nerve damage, causing severe discomfort and mobility issues.
Although medicines can alleviate the pain, doctors are interested in understanding why some diabetic individuals develop neuropathy while others do not. The answers to this question may lead to preventive strategies.
A Pioneering Study
A team of doctors at Michigan Medicine sought to examine the relationship between specific body fats, called lipids, and diabetic neuropathy.
They collected blood samples from about 70 individuals with diabetes from the Gila River Indian community. After safeguarding these samples for ten years, the researchers checked the participants for nerve damage.
Lipids: Unraveling Their Role in Neuropathy
The research team analyzed 435 different types of lipids in the blood samples.
Their findings, published in the Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology, revealed that individuals who developed neuropathy showed lipid alterations indicating their bodies’ inefficiency in converting food into energy.
Intriguingly, these changes were detectable in blood samples ten years before neuropathy onset.
Lipids are metabolized into energy for our nerves through a process known as beta-oxidation, which acts as a power station for the nerves.
However, if this power station malfunctions, nerves receive insufficient energy, leading to damage and neuropathy. The study found that individuals who developed neuropathy had issues with this beta-oxidation process.
The Power of Diet and Exercise
Eva L. Feldman, one of the researchers, hypothesizes that our dietary choices might influence lipid types in our bodies.
She suggests that a Mediterranean diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats might be beneficial for our nerves.
This diet includes foods such as fish, poultry, beans, and eggs, while limiting the consumption of sweets and red meats.
Furthermore, Dr. Feldman proposes that regular exercise might enhance the efficiency of the beta-oxidation process.
By maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly, the body’s “power station” might function optimally, providing nerves with necessary energy and potentially preventing neuropathy.
The Future of Diabetes Care
These findings have opened a new avenue of research and hope for diabetes care. With further research, the team believes they can help diabetic individuals avoid neuropathy by making specific dietary and lifestyle changes.
However, until then, it is important for individuals with diabetes to maintain a balanced diet, regular exercise regimen, and adhere to their doctor’s advice to promote overall nerve health.
If you’re interested in diabetes, consider reading up on the key cause of type 2 diabetes and eating habits that could lower the risk of type 2 diabetes.
For more on nutrition, recent studies have linked unhealthy plant-based diets to metabolic syndrome, and findings indicate that ultrasound may help reverse type 2 diabetes.
The study was published in the Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology.
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