1. Manage Blood Sugar Levels The very best thing you can do to help prevent or control neuropathy is to manage your blood sugar levels. Maintaining blood sugar consistently within a healthy range is the most important thing to prevent permanent damage to the nerves, blood vessels, eyes, skin and other body parts before complications develop.

Studies have found that poor blood sugar greatly increases risk for peripheral neuropathy, which accounts for hospitalizations more frequently than other complications of diabetes and also is the most frequent cause of non‐traumatic amputations. (2) The best way to do this is through a combination of frequent blood glucose testing, eating a healthy diet, exercising, and working with your doctor to determine if you need diabetes medicine and/or insulin therapy.

2. Follow a Healthy Diet Your diet has a direct impact on your blood sugar levels, so it’s the first place to start in order to manage diabetic symptoms and complications. Focus your diet around unprocessed, whole foods, and limit or reduce your intake of refined carbs, added sugars and sugary drinks to help stabilize blood sugar.

Some simple ways to do this include drinking water/herbal tea over soda, juice and other sweetened drinks; eating plenty of healthy fats and lean proteins over refined carbohydrates; buying less packaged foods and always checking labels for added ingredients or sugars when you do; and managing your weight more easily by cooking at home and using techniques like roasting, baking, steaming or broiling over frying.

As part of your Neuropathy diet plan eat plenty high fiber foods that are packed with nutrients but low in sugar/artificial ingredients, including:

• Vegetables and whole fruits: all kinds, which are high in antioxidants, fiber, vitamins, and essential electrolytes like minerals and potassium
• Wild-caught fish: omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil benefits diabetics by lowering triglycerides and apoproteins that raise risk for diabetic complications
• Health Fats: coconut oil/coconut milk, olive oil, nuts, seeds and avocado
• Lean protein foods: grass-fed beef, pasture-raised poultry, cage-free eggs and sprouted beans/legumes, which are also high in fiber
• You can also use Stevia, a natural no-calorie sweetener, in place of table sugar

Other helpful tips for managing blood sugar with your diet include:

• Cut out most grains if possible, but especially those made with refined wheat flours.
• Limit your intake of high sodium foods, keep sodium to no more than 2,300 milligrams per day to help control blood pressure.
• Drink six to eight eight-ounce glasses of water each day to stay hydrated, plus fill up on more fiber-rich and water-rich foods like fresh veggies and fruit to feel satisfied on less.
• Watch your portions, and try measuring things for a bit to learn proper serving sizes.
• If it helps you, try keeping track of your daily food intake in a food journal for several weeks to monitor your progress and get a better picture of how you’re doing.
• Manage blood sugar by sticking to regular meals and snack times, eating balanced portions every few hours.
• Bring your own lunch to work/school, and try having healthy snacks on you.

3. Exercise and Try Physical Therapy
Exercising regularly is one of the simplest ways to manage your diabetes symptoms, help you maintain a healthy weight, control blood sugar and high blood pressure, increase strength, and improve range of motion, in addition to all the other benefits of exercise.

A 2012 study published in the Journal of Diabetes Complications found that regular exercise caused significant reductions in pain and neuropathic symptoms in diabetics and increased intraepidermal nerve fiber branching.

Work your way up to exercising for 30-60 minutes daily, doing low-impact exercises like cycling, swimming or walking. This helps your body respond to insulin better and lower blood glucose, possibly even to the point where you can take less medications.

Exercise also helps protect nerves by improving circulation, reducing cholesterol and lowering stress, which can raise your glucose levels and increase inflammation.

Physical therapy can also be helpful because it increases muscle strength, mobility and daily functioning. You can talk to your physical therapist about any pain you’re experiencing and try special orthopedic inserts or shoes, which can help reduce symptoms and improve your ability to get around normally.

4. Reduce Exposure to Toxins and Quit Smoking
People with neuropathy are more likely to develop kidney stone symptoms and other kidney problems, including Kidney disease, which is why it’s important to take added stress off your kidneys in order to prevent an accumulation of toxins in the blood that worsens the problem.

Lower your exposure to pesticide chemicals sprayed on non-organic crops, chemical household cleaners and beauty products, unnecessary prescriptions or antibiotics, and too much alcohol and cigarettes/recreation drugs.

Quit smoking as quickly as possible, since if you have diabetes and use tobacco in any form, you’re more likely than diabetic nonsmokers to develop nerve damage and even have a heart attack or stroke.

5. Manage Stress
Stress makes inflammation worse and raises the risk for diabetics’ complications of all sorts. Exercising, meditating or practicing yoga and spending more time doing hobbies or being in nature, and being around family and friends are all-natural stress relievers you should try.

Laser, Chiropractic, Acupuncture, electroanalgesia, and LED lights, or other beneficial treatments that not only helps lower stress and pain, but also has been shown to be ease symptoms of neuropathy safely with very few, if any, side effects.

6. Lower Pain Naturally
If you’ve already developed neuropathy and are looking for ways to lower diabetic nerve pain and improve daily functions, you’ll be happy to hear that a combination of natural remedies can help.

Studies have shown that several natural anti-inflammatories and antioxidants help stop nerve damage from progression and lower pain. These include:

• Alpha Lipoic Acid: an anti-inflammatory shown to improve insulin sensitivity and defend against neuropathy, take 300-1,200 milligrams daily (6)
• Evening Primrose Oil & Turmeric are anti-inflammatory supplements that may lower Neuropathy numbness, tingling and burning and has other positive effects. Chromium picolinate: helps improve insulin sensitivity, take 600 micrograms daily
• Cinnamon: known to help stabilize blood sugar, add one to two teaspoons to meal daily and try using Cinnamon oil
• Omega-3 fish oil: ask your doctor for his/her daily dosage to help lower inflammation
• Vitamin B-12; many diabetics seem to be low in this nutrient, which can worsen nerve damage.
• Essential oils, to help dull pain and lower inflammation, including peppermint, lavender and frankincense

It might take some time to see improvements, so be patient and try different combinations until you find relief. When diabetic nerve pain gets really bad, you can also take an over the-counter painkiller when necessary like ibuprofen.

7. Protect Your Skin and Feet
Make sure to monitor your symptoms and look for any signs of new nerve damage to your skin, feet, legs or hands. Inspect yourself for any new signs of injuries, such as blisters, sores, and ulcers.

Foot care and skin care are important parts of treatment and prevention for diabetic neuropathy, according to the American Diabetes Association. Wash your skin and feet/toenails carefully daily, especially in skin folds where bacteria and moisture can build up and cause infections.

Wear clean socks and clothing, and keep delicate skin out of the very hot temperatures (such as very warm showers) and the sun. Cut your toenails, file corns, and see a doctor if you notice redness, swelling or infection forming.

Some studies have also found that skin creams containing Capacin from Cayanne pepper can help reduce pain sensations in some people, although use these carefully since it’s possible they can cause burning and skin irritations in some people.

The goal at DCOA is to contain and control Degenerative Disc Disease. Results vary patient to patient based on age, lifestyle, genetics, etc. Spinal Decompression treatment is designed to bring relief so as not to necessitate ongoing therapy. However once the event of decompression is obtained a retention program or maintenance schedule is recommended.It is our recommendation that doctors/patients integrate an active and passive exercise component in addition to a home care protocol designed to teach the patient to strengthen their back. Disc Centers of America, works with disc cases all over the world. Only DCOA doctors are certified to utilize TDC Therapy. DCOA doctors receive ongoing training, research and are acknowledged by the International Medical Advisory Board on Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression and the International Disc Education Association.

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