Natural Drug-Free Home Treatments for Diabetic Neuropathy in Hands or Feet
More than 34 million people in the United States suffer from Diabetes according to the CDC, which works out to about one in 10 Americans. According to the Mayo Clinic about half of the people with Diabetes will develop Diabetic Neuropathy.
Even more alarming, is that the CDC’s most recent National Diabetes Statistics Report revealed that a further 88 million Americans have elevated blood sugar levels and are at high risk of developing the disease. Fortunately, natural drug-free home treatments such as making lifestyle changes and Red Light Therapy hold great promise in treating Diabetic Neuropathy in the hands and feet.
What is Diabetic Neuropathy?
Diabetic Neuropathy is an outcome of damage to the peripheral nerves, causing what is known as Peripheral Neuropathy. People with Peripheral Neuropathy may experience weakness, painful tingling, shooting pains and hot and cold sensations in the affected areas of their hands and feet. Diabetic Neuropathy has no known cure. The overarching goals of treatment are to slow the progression of the condition down, manage complications, alleviate pain and restore function.
The condition doesn’t only affect diabetics, though, and about 32% of the 20 million Americans who suffer from it do not have Diabetes. In these cases, the condition is known as Non-Diabetic Neuropathy.
Alternative and Natural Therapies vs. Drugs
Many prescription pain medications are available for alleviating diabetes-related nerve pain in your feet and hands. They include anti-seizure drugs and antidepressants, but conventional pain treatment may vary. Unfortunately, they don't work for everyone, and taking them on a daily basis can cause a host of new problems. For day-to-day treatment, more holistic approaches and alternative treatments are often preferred and considered very helpful.
Natural Treatments for Diabetic Neuropathy
Natural treatments may help manage Diabetic Neuropathy symptoms and prevent further nerve damage. Common natural treatments for Diabetic Neuropathy include:
- Eating healthy: A balanced diet made up of whole foods provides all of the vitamins, minerals, trace elements and phytonutrients that the body needs without supplementation, and eating healthy can also reduce nerve pain and help to regulate blood sugar levels. Chili peppers loaded with capsaicin and foods rich in vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and alpha-lipoic acid are especially effective at easing the symptoms of Diabetic Neuropathy. Also, it’s important to avoid processed foods and fast food.
- Exercise: Punishing workouts don’t need to be the remedy for Diabetic Neuropathy, and a daily walk lasting about half an hour is all that is needed to greatly improve heath, reduce stress and increase blood flow, all of which can ease the discomfort associated with the condition. Exercising outdoors has another benefit: It exposes the body to the sunlight we use to produce vitamin D. This is important because researchers have linked low levels of vitamin D with elevated nerve pain.
- Take vitamins: Vitamins and supplements can help address nutritional shortfalls in your diet, but they are really no substitute for the ones that come out of the food you consume. If you consistently have nutritional deficiencies, talk to your doctor about a good dietician they recommend you see.
- Stop drinking and smoking: Alcohol and certain drugs in cigarettes can interfere with the blood flow and healing needed to fight Diabetic Neuropathy. Plus, they can potentially give you a host of other health problems.
Natural Treatments for Diabetic Neuropathy Pain
Relaxation techniques including yoga and tai chi can be helpful in combating Diabetic Neuropathy pain. Also, take it easy and avoid things that are upsetting you. Devoting more time to activities that bring us comfort or pleasure are some of the best natural treatments for Diabetic Neuropathy pain.
Even switching to footwear designed with comfort rather than appearance in mind can make a huge difference. Bonding with pets or spending time with loved ones also releases chemicals in the brain that combat depression as effectively as the most advanced pharmaceuticals.
Alternative Treatments for Diabetic Neuropathy
Alternative treatments for non-diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy have become the focus of a great deal of scientific research in recent years. However, there are such terrible treatments right now for Diabetic Neuropathy at present, and most of them are solely focused on treating the pain.
Gene therapy that deletes the chemical GM3 prevented the development of Neuropathy related to Diabetes in animal studies. There is also an ongoing clinical trial that will determine if a new investigational pain medication will help relieve the pain of Diabetic Neuropathy.
In the meantime, there are alternative treatments such as Red Light Therapy that your health provider can use that helps with the painful symptoms of Diabetic Neuropathy that are available now.
Comparatively, Red Light Therapy is an effective treatment once a patient sustains peripheral nerve damage and experiences pain. The other treatments are only in the experimental phase, or they only prevent the development of Diabetic Neuropathy, both of which are not ideal if you are in pain at this moment. For those that are unfamiliar with it, here is more information about healing Red Light Therapy.
What is Red Light Therapy?
Red Light Therapy is one of the most promising new treatments for Diabetic Neuropathy in the feet and hands, and we have the scientists at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to thank for it.
NASA first experimented with light to find a way to grow plants in space, and scientists then conducted experiments to find out if light could be used to prevent bone density loss and muscle wasting in astronauts that spend months in zero gravity.
The results of these experiments were extremely promising, and further research has discovered that using light can effectively treat a wide range of conditions, including nerve pain. This has led to the development of devices that can be used painlessly at the doctor or in the home to deliver red and nearly infrared light.
The Benefits of Light Therapy
Devices used in light therapy are completely safe, and the light they give off penetrates deeply into skin and reaches nerve cells. This has many benefits, which include:
- Nerve regeneration: Light is a powerful antioxidant that can reduce inflammation, ease pain and encourage damaged nerves to regenerate naturally.
- Improved blood flow and healing: Exposing cells to red and NIR (Near Infrared) light leads to the production of new capillaries and blood vessels. This light also encourages the body to produce collagen and connective tissue that it can use to heal wounds.
- Increased cellular energy: Red Light Therapy is an effective alternative treatment for Diabetic Neuropathy because it boosts the body’s natural healing capabilities by stimulating cellular energy production.
- Improved immunity: Exposure to red or NIR light is known to boost the immune system. This can improve the way cells function and lead to a more robust metabolism.
Alternative Treatments for Non-Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
As with alternative treatments for Diabetic Neuropathy, there are a number of new experimental treatments for non-diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy that are part of clinical studies, with most of them having the goal of reducing discomfort and making the condition easier to live with.
Meanwhile, you can take a proactive approach and benefit from red and infrared LED devices that give targeted treatment now. The devices work to relieve inflammation, calm inflamed nerves, and boost nerve tissue regeneration. Red Light Therapy is a clinically proven therapy which safely stimulates blood circulation, and relaxes the muscles, which, in turn, provides fast pain relief.
Treatments for Diabetic Neuropathy in Cats
It may surprise you, but our cats, dogs and other pets can have many of the same health problems as you do, including Diabetes and its related neuropathy. In fact, Diabetic Neuropathy is a common complication seen in felines with Diabetes. Unfortunately, if it is not treated, it can lead to permanent damage in the cat’s femoral nerve, joints and skin on its back legs.
If a cat has damage related to moderate to extreme Diabetic Neuropathy, further progression can be halted by proper treatment, most common of which is the administration of B12-rich supplements and the monitoring of the cat’s glucose levels. Veterinary treatments for Diabetic Neuropathy in cats can also include the use of Red Light Therapy, and its benefits, including helping their ligament, nerve and tendon injuries heal.
Home Treatments for Diabetic Neuropathy in Hands or Feet
It is said that sunlight is the best disinfectant. The latest science suggests that the light spectrum can also be used to treat a wide range of medical conditions, improve healing and alleviate pain. Red Light Therapy is rapidly becoming the preferred at-home neuropathy treatment, as studies show that it offers a wealth of health benefits such as promoting nerve growth and giving your body a healing boost.
Bright Health Offers Home Treatments for Diabetic Neuropathy in Feet
Bright Health offers a breakthrough Light Therapy Device for use in the home that uses LED bulbs to deliver specific parts of natural sunlight to promote wellness and health to your feet. If you are suffering from nerve pain and looking for home treatments for Diabetic Neuropathy in hands or feet that do not rely on powerful and potentially dangerous drugs, you owe it to yourself to find out more about the benefits of light therapy.
