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Vitamin D and Diabetic Neuropathy

August 12th, 2011

Diabetic neuropathy, a complication of Type 2 diabetes, is the term used for a broad range of problems that can come from diabetes-related nerve damage. The most common form is “peripheral neuropathy”. The symptoms usually affect the feet. You may have a “pins and needles” sensation, a burning pain or numbness. Actually the pain of neuropathy often gets off to a slow start. At first you may find a tingle in one of your toes, and as it works its way up your calves and legs, it becomes more painful.

According to the National Institute of Health in the United States, diabetic neuropathy or nerve damage:

  • affects 60 to 70 per cent of diabetics,
  • is particularly prevalent in those who have had diabetes for 25 years or more,
  • affects diabetics who have difficulty controlling their blood sugar,
  • are overweight,
  • have high blood pressure, or
  • who have too much fat in their blood.

According to a study published in July 2011 in the journal Diabetic Medicine, having too little vitamin D could be another risk factor.

The Study: This study was undertaken at the Medical University of South Carolina in the United States. Adults over 40 years of age with diagnosed diabetes were recruited from the 2001 to 2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. These diabetics were questioned about whether they suffered from pain, numbness or tingling in their hands or feet,

A monofilament test was administered. The monofilament test consists of touching the patient’s hands and feet to determine whether he or she can feel light touch.

Blood vitamin D levels were measured and compared with the degree of neuropathy present:

  • half the participants reported feeling pain or numbness in their hands or feet,
  • 37 per cent reported pain or tingling in their hands or feet, and
  • 38 per cent reported numbness in their hands or feet.

Eight per cent had significant loss of sensation as shown by the monofilament test.

Vitamin D deficiency: Those with vitamin D deficiency had more than twice the risk of having neuropathy compared to those with healthy levels of vitamin D. It was therefore concluded vitamin D deficiency was associated with symptoms of diabetic neuropathy.

Having your foot or hand “go to sleep” is an unpleasant sensation and makes it difficult to walk, or to use your hands. None of us would care to deal with that kind of sensation permanently. Making sure that we get adequate amounts of vitamin D through:

  • short periods of exposure to sunlight,
  • consuming foods such as fortified orange juice, soy milk, cereal or certain kinds of mushrooms, or
  • supplement form,

can possibly protect against diabetic neuropathy. Vitamin D also helps you absorb calcium, which postpones osteoporosis and helps to maintain your blood pressure. This powerful antioxidant also increases insulin sensitivity by up to 60 per cent… that’s even better than the number one Type 2 diabetes drug used, metformin. The best form of vitamin D to take is vitamin D3. » Read more: Vitamin D and Diabetic Neuropathy

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Type 2 Diabetes – This Is How Healthy and Unhealthy Fats Affect Your Body and Diabetes

August 12th, 2011

When it comes to their disease, both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics constantly hear about the evils of carbs. But much less focus is ever placed on fat. The truth is when you consider the ramifications as it directly relates to health, fat is almost as important as carbs.

The first thing to take a close look at is the difference between healthy and unhealthy fats, more commonly referred to as “good” fat and “bad” fat. Everyone has to watch their intake of unhealthy fats, but if you have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, you really need to be extra vigilant. Unhealthy fats can worsen your insulin resistance and make your already elevated risk for heart disease much more heightened.

It’s not that you need to increase the amount of fat in your diet. The aim is to replace the foods containing unhealthy fats with foods containing healthy fats. There are four types of fatty acids:

  • polyunsaturated,
  • monosaturated,
  • saturated, and
  • trans-fatty acids.

Most foods contain a mixture of fatty acids, but usually one predominates. One example of this is olive oil which contains 73 percent monounsaturated fat… the rest is polyunsaturated and saturated fat.

Healthy fats include polyunsaturated and monunsaturated: Monounsaturated fats are the healthiest; the next in line are polyunsaturated fats. So these are most definitely the ones to include in your diet; they are actually linked to disease prevention.

Monounsaturated fats… the key reason why they are classified as good is due to how well they:

  • lower cholesterol… they don’t raise your LDL or “bad” cholesterol that helps to clog your arteries and contribute to heart disease,
  • raise your HDL or “good” cholesterol which actually removes cholesterol from your body.

As well, monounsaturated fats have been linked to increased insulin sensitivity.

The most common sources of these fats are from certain cooking oils, such as peanut, canola and olive. A number of nuts and seeds are loaded with it too… sesame seeds, pecans, almonds, cashews and peanuts. Many derivatives of peanuts including peanut butter are other examples. Avocados and olives round out the list.

Polyunsaturated fats… these also fall into the healthy fat class:

  • they too do not raise your LDL or “bad” cholesterol

Sources of polyunsaturated fats: A large number of oils contain high levels of this fatty acid. Plus, some salad dressings, walnuts and pumpkins are also rich in this fat.

Also omega-3 fatty acids offers a host of health benefits such as reducing inflammation which means it helps to prevent and possibly treat rheumatoid arthritis and heart disease. This particular fat also helps to prevent blood clots. Of course, the most obvious source for this fat is certain types of fish, but it can also be obtained from plants such as soybeans, walnuts, and flaxseed and canola oil. » Read more: Type 2 Diabetes – This Is How Healthy and Unhealthy Fats Affect Your Body and Diabetes

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