Diabetes affects around 37 million Americans, disrupting the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar levels.
Poorly managed diabetes can lead to complications, including diabetic neuropathy, a condition characterized by nerve damage caused by elevated blood sugar levels.
This condition often results in pain and numbness, primarily in the hands and feet, affecting approximately half of all diabetes patients.
While medications can help alleviate the pain, understanding why some individuals with diabetes develop neuropathy while others do not could lead to valuable preventive strategies.
A Groundbreaking Study
A team of doctors at Michigan Medicine embarked on a study to investigate the relationship between specific body fats, known as lipids, and diabetic neuropathy.
They collected blood samples from approximately 70 individuals with diabetes from the Gila River Indian community. These samples were preserved for ten years before the researchers assessed the participants for nerve damage.
Unveiling the Role of Lipids
The research team scrutinized 435 different types of lipids within the blood samples.
Their findings, published in the Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology, unveiled that individuals who developed neuropathy exhibited lipid alterations indicating their bodies’ inefficiency in converting food into energy.
Remarkably, these lipid changes were detectable in blood samples taken a full decade before neuropathy symptoms appeared.
Lipids play a crucial role in providing energy to nerves through a process called beta-oxidation, acting as a power source for the nerves.
However, when this power source malfunctions, nerves receive inadequate energy, leading to damage and neuropathy.
The study highlighted that individuals who developed neuropathy experienced issues with the beta-oxidation process.
The Influence of Diet and Exercise
Eva L. Feldman, one of the researchers, suggests that dietary choices may significantly impact the types of lipids in our bodies.
She proposes that adopting a Mediterranean diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats, could be beneficial for nerve health.
This diet includes foods such as fish, poultry, beans, and eggs while limiting the consumption of sweets and red meats. Furthermore, Dr. Feldman suggests that regular exercise might enhance the efficiency of the beta-oxidation process.
By maintaining a healthy diet and engaging in regular physical activity, the body’s “power station” could function optimally, providing nerves with the necessary energy and potentially preventing neuropathy.
A Promising Future for Diabetes Care
These findings have opened up a new avenue of research and hope for diabetes care. With further investigation, the research team believes they can assist individuals with diabetes in avoiding neuropathy by making specific dietary and lifestyle changes.
However, until these findings are further validated, it remains crucial for individuals with diabetes to adhere to a balanced diet, engage in regular exercise, and follow their healthcare provider’s guidance to promote overall nerve health.
If you are interested in diabetes, consider reading about the primary cause of type 2 diabetes and dietary habits that can lower the risk of type 2 diabetes.
For more insights into nutrition, recent studies have linked unhealthy plant-based diets to metabolic syndrome, and there are indications that ultrasound may help reverse type 2 diabetes.
The study was published in the Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about Turmeric compound and vitamin D could improve blood pressure in people with diabetes and findings of Vitamin nutrient supplements may increase fall risk in people with diabetes.
For more information about diabetes, please see recent studies about 5 dangerous signs you have diabetes-related eye disease, and results showing why pomegranate is super fruit for people with diabetes.
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