Picture living with the lingering reality that one day you’ll wake up not feeling your feet, and this lost sensation could result in infection, ulceration, or even your limbs being amputated. This dingy and yet actual condition is referred to as diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN).

Around 60% to 70% of patients living with diabetes suffer nerve damage at some point, according to research carried out by the National Institute of Diabetes, Kidney, and Digestive Disease.

Can diabetes be controlled using medication?

Well, no. diabetes cannot be treated using medication alone. Our culture has brought in some fantasy that you can consume anything, not exercise, and that some injections or a few pills will fix any disease. However, this is all a fallacy.

Diabetes appears treatable with pharmaceuticals only on the surface. Hemoglobin A1C and fasting blood sugar levels all seem to improve with time. Looking at these key indicators, you can conclude that a patient is doing pretty well, but these can be quite misleading if not combined with a closer look at the patient’s lifestyle and dietary habits.

Fasting blood sugar tests are typically carried out within eight hours of fasting and are a clear indication of your sugar levels currently under controlled conditions. They are not an accurate reflection of possible blood sugar levels over time. Hemoglobin A1C tests measure your glycated hemoglobin levels in three months, usually the lifespan of red blood cells. This provides a more realistic reflection of your blood sugar levels.

If you’ve got a diabetes peripheral neuropathy condition, it’s essential to keep a diet journal if you want to regulate your sugar levels and keep your diet in check. Most diets are sorely redefined carbohydrates. These glycemic-filled and processed foods are the primary cause of diabetes.

Instead of eradicating these illness-causing foods from the diet, most people depend on prescribed medication. This brings in some sense of false security. Yes, take the drug, but better still, combine these with exercises and proper dieting.

Every time you consume carbohydrates, your sugar levels go above average. If this happens, then you are at risk of suffering from glycation. Glycation refers to the damage of the microscopic blood vessels in the body, usually caused by excess blood sugar. This then results in nerve degeneration, causing neuropathy.

So, what can be done to reverse neuropathy?

First, be your health advocate. Learn all you can about eating healthy and practice it while still taking your medication as prescribed. This is the essential step that you must stake if you’re on the verge of reversing or preventing diabetic peripheral neuropathy and all the negative implications that it tags along.

If you’ve got diabetes, changing your diet is a must. So, what should you be eating?

Protein. Ensure your diet is 40% pure, healthy lean protein. Always include grass-fed chicken, pork, lamb, beef, or fish in your diet. Be sure to include vegetarian protein sources such as tempeh and traditionally prepared soya too.

Organic. Consuming organic dishes reduces your body’s toxic load, making it less harmful to your immune system.

Fat. Include 30% fat in your diet. Use healthy fats while cooking. Healthy fats include olive oil, sunflower oil, sesame oil, and grapeseed oil. Also, add seeds and nuts as primary snacks in your diet and negligible amounts of dairy.

Carbs. Carbohydrates should take up less than 30% of your diet. You should focus majorly on vegetables, fruits, sprouted grains, and whole grains as well. Avoid excessive consumption of processed starchy vegetables, sweetened beverages, baked goods, alcohol, and fruit juices.

Careful assessment of your dietary portions and eating a balanced diet will reduce medication uptake and, in most cases, eliminate their use. Preventing sugar peaks and eating healthy reduces glycation damage and speeds up the healing process of the damage already caused. Be sure to exercise regularly and take enough water too.

It’s evident that the ideal way to treat neuropathy is prevention. Nonetheless, if DPN manifests, you can always reverse it only if you become more proactive and educate yourself more. Remember, eat healthily, exercise more, and you may never need those pills anymore!

Reversing Diabetic Neuropathy