Healthy diets and physical exercises are principal parts of a healthy lifestyle when you have diabetes. If you have diabetes, a healthy eating plan can help you keep your type 2 diabetes in check. Healthy eating achieves target blood lipid (fat) levels and maintains healthy blood pressure.
Perhaps a critical factor in managing diabetes and helps in reducing the progression of a number of complications associated with diabetes majorly the diabetic neuropathy and peripheral nerve damage.
What To Eat & Avoid When You Have Diabetic Neuropathy?
Diabetic neuropathy occurs as a result of damages of the nerves outside of the brain and the spinal cord. Medical studies have proven evidence that increased levels of sugar content in the blood in an individual with diabetes damages nerves and leads to this condition. If your health care provider suspects you for neuropathy, then you might require to undergo a series of tests with regard to blood and urine.
Depending on the result, a registered dietician or dietician nutritionist will suggest what to eat and avoid, a dietary supplement to manage diabetic neuropathy. Taking suggestion from your doctor before taking a dietary supplement is most vital because some of the diets can interfere with the diabetic complication and often result in kidney problems.
Nevertheless, whether or not you have a medical condition, eating a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein will always help to live a healthy lifestyle.1
There is no doubt, a healthy diet can go a long way in helping both to prevent and manage neuropathy. These tips will help you protect the health of your nerves
Manage Your Blood Sugar Levels With High-Fiber Diet – Patients suffering from diabetic neuropathy should eat to manage diabetic neuropathy and avoid foods that are rich in carbohydrates such as bread, cereals, rice, pasta, fruits, milk, and desserts that can cause this rise. Fiber slows carb digestion and sugar absorption particularly soluble fiber help improve blood sugar levels. Oats, peas and beans are high in soluble fiber.2
Vitamin B12– Maintaining healthy blood sugar levels may help you control B-12 absorption. Vitamin B12 plays an evident part in treating diabetic neuropathy. This vitamin is one of the eight B vitamins, is vital to the healthy managing of your sugar levels and to reduce the harm of nerve damage.
ALA And GLA- Whether you are looking to stabilize blood sugar levels or simply reduce your craving for food ALA (alpha-lipoic acid) is a versatile and potent antioxidant which can help in achieving your goal. There are many proven evidence that this antioxidant has decreased insulin resistance and successfully managed the blood sugar levels.
Similarly, another antioxidant GLA (Gamma-Lipoic Acid) is found effective in improving the nerve damage caused by diabetic neuropathy.
Carnitine (L-Carnitine, Acetyl L-Carnitine) – This is a chemical compound that is naturally produced in the kidneys and liver. Perhaps plays a potent role in controlling the anxiety levels and effectively manage glucose levels in the blood. The latest report shows that a primed constant infusion of acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) may improve glucose absorption in type 2 diabetic patients and restored the glucose synthase activity.3
What Should Be Avoided To Manage Blood Sugar Levels?
Avoid high-salt foods such as potatoes, rice, pasta, canned products (meats and veggies), processed foods (different kinds of meats, bacon, and sausage), and salty munchies which can cause high blood pressure. Similarly, too many nutrients in your diet plan often increase the level of blood sugar and apparently turn toxic to the nerves.
Although most of the vitamins improve diabetic neuropathy yet the B6 vitamin with doses of greater than 200 mg may cause neuropathy and other complications. They many in packaged foods. Limit smoking and avoid alcohol to help manage your symptoms.4
- Nutrition for diabetic neuropathy https://www.foundationforpn.org/living-well/lifestyle/nutrition/
- How can nutrition help neuropathy? https://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/blog/nutrition-for-neuropathy/
- Vitamins and minerals for diabetic neuropathy https://www.diabetes.co.uk/vitamins-supplements.html
- Foods to avoid when you have neuropathy and diabetes https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/qa/what-foods-should-i-avoid-if-i-have-neuropathy-and-diabetes
Also Read:
- Diabetic Neuropathy: Classification, Types, Causes, Risk Factors, Signs, Symptoms, Treatment
- Best Exercise/Activities For Diabetic Neuropathy
- Coping Methods For Diabetic Neuropathy
- What Are The First Symptoms Of Diabetic Neuropathy & How Do You Test For It?
- How Do You Stop Diabetic Neuropathy From Spreading?
- Who Is At Risk For Diabetic Neuropathy & Is There A Blood Test For It?
- Is Diabetic Neuropathy A Disability?
