Ask the Doctor—B Vitamins for Diabetic Neuropathy

By Jacob Teitelbaum, MD

I am diabetic and was recently diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy. I have constant pain and some loss of sensation in both of my feet. What can I do?

Painful Diabetic Neuropathy (PDN) is a very common cause of pain in diabetics. As you are experiencing, the feet, which are most often affected, may feel both numb and painful at the same time. Many factors contribute to nerve injury in diabetics, including decreased circulation, accumulation of toxic by-products, damage from elevated sugars, and nutritional deficiencies.

First, I suggest you try vitamin B complex. Research shows that many people diagnosed with PDN actually suffer from vitamin B6 or B12 deficiency and can benefit from a special form of vitamin B12 called methylcobalamin. I recommend 50 mg of B complex with methylcobalamin daily. In addition, take inositol (1,000 mg per day), which improves nerve function, and lipoic acid (300 mg three times a day) for nerve pain. It may take six months for the pain to subside completely.

Courtesy of Alternative Medicine
http://www.alternativemedicine.com