If you suffer from diabetes and peripheral neuropathy at the same time, it’s significant that you watchfully control your blood sugar levels. High glucose levels over time are responsible for damaging the blood vessels and nerves in your legs and feet. Luckily, a good diet and regular, moderate-intensity physical activity can help improve your body’s use of insulin.
According to Tom Elasy, MD, director of the Diabetes Clinic at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, taking up healthy eating and exercise habits is "enormously important" due to the fact that it keeps blood glucose levels under control.
"There is significant scientific evidence that lifestyle changes can prevent the development and slow down the progression of neuropathy," he claims. "Moreover, such exercise as walking can relieve the pain, perhaps because it improves circulation."
To change your lifestyle:
* Take up regular physical activity. Ask your healthcare provider for an exercise routine that is proper for you. Apart from helping you reach and sustain a healthy weight, physical activity also improves the body’s use of insulin and improves circulation. It strengthens muscles as well, which improve coordination and balance. Your physician can get you started on an exercise program that will not be hard on your feet - like walking, swimming, riding a bike, or yoga. You may have to reduce the number of exercises that are hard on your feet, such as jogging or aerobics. Patients suffering from neuropathy- particularly those with bone deformities - should always wear well-fitted shoes in order to avoid pressure sores and ulcers on the feet.
* If you smoke cigarettes, give it up. Smoking cause circulatory problems or make them worse, and it worsens the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. It also significantly increases the risk of heart disease in patients suffering from diabetes. Consult your healthcare provider about ways to give up smoking. Frequently, people turn to counseling and medication therapy such as nicotine patches, gum, or other aids. Antidepressant drugs can also help decrease cravings and help control pain from neuropathy at the same time.
* Carefully limit the consumption of alcohol. Alcohol can make peripheral neuropathy worse and make it difficult to control your blood sugar levels.
Eat a Balanced Diet
In order to keep blood sugar under control, it’s essential to follow the right meal plan. A well-balanced diet can make a big difference. You might want to talk to your healthcare provider or a dietitian to learn what foods are best, when to eat, how much to have of each, and what to avoid.
You will probably have to keep close track of the carbohydrates you eat due to the fact that they have the most instant effect on your blood glucose. Carbohydrates are in the following food groups:
* Fruit
* Dairy products
* Bread, cereal, rice, pasta
* Starchy vegetables
You should eat a lot of fiber due to the fact that it plays an essential role in the digestive process and delays sugar absorption. Choose from:
* Fresh fruits and vegetables
* Cooked dried beans and peas
* Whole grain breads, cereals, and crackers
* Brown rice
* Bran products
It’s also relevant to eat foods that are low in fat. Good choices are:
* Lean meats. Bake, broil, grill, roast, or boil - never fry
* Low-fat dairy. This includes cheese, milk, yogurt
* Low-fat vegetable cooking spray
* Low-fat margarines and salad dressings
Avoid high-sodium foods, which can considerably increase blood pressure:
* Salt
* Boxed mixes of potatoes, rice, pasta
* Canned meats
* Canned soups and vegetables
* Processed and packaged foods (lunch meat, sausage, bacon ham)
* Salty snack foods
