6 Supplements to Treat Neuropathy

Neuropathy is nerve pain that usually happens when nerves stop working the way they should or sometimes stop working. Symptoms include numbness, tingling, and burning. Diabetes is one of the most common causes of neuropathy. Diabetic neuropathy affects about 70% of people with diabetes.

Medicines that can help treat neuropathy – like pregabalin (Lyrica) and duloxetine (Cymbalta), are not always effective.

Many OTC supplements claim to help with diabetic neuropathy symptoms—however, no specifically approved science supplements back all of these claims.

In this blog, we’ll discuss six of the most common supplements for diabetic neuropathy.

Top Supplements for Diabetic Nerve

Here are six supplements that may help you with neuropathy:

1. Alpha Lipoic Acid

Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is one of the antioxidants that can help fight free radicals. When there’s an antioxidant imbalance and free radicals, your body is in a state of ‘oxidative stress.’

Oxidative stress plays a significant role in causing neuropathy. Such antioxidants like ALA may be helpful for you to treat. ALA helps to improve circulation to the nerves and may help you to reduce nerve pain.

You can administer Alpha-Lipoic acid intravenously, through capsule supplements, or by eating food like brewer’s yeast, spinach, brussels sprouts, liver, red meat, and broccoli.

2. Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 also known as cobalamin plays an essential role in nerve function. It also helps the body to make DNA and red blood cells. It is an animal-based food like dairy products, eggs, and meat. You can also add it to many breakfast cereals.

Many people get enough B12 from the diet, although vegetarians and vegans may struggle. In addition, people may have specific health conditions like pernicious anemia that keeps them from absorbing B12. Metformin which is a common diabetes medication may also help to lower B12 levels in the body.

3. Acetyl-l-carnitine

Carnitine is a type of amino acid you can find in red meat. It helps your cells to use fat for energy and also plays a role in improving nerve damage and any pain. Acetyl-l-carnitine (ALC) is a form of carnitine that is easier for the body to absorb.

With Acetyl-L-Carnitine, you can improve cancer-associated fatigue through chemotherapy-induced neuro therapy.

4. Vitamin D

It is one of the nutrients that can help you absorb calcium while maintaining bone health. Vitamin D is essential for nerve function. Low vitamin D levels may trigger inflammation leading to high blood sugar. It may also make your body more sensitive to pain. These things all make diabetic neuropathy more likely.

Low vitamin D levels are more common in people with diabetes. Diabetic neuropathy is two to three times more prone in people with diabetes when vitamin D levels are low.

5. Magnesium

Magnesium is one of the minerals your body needs for proper muscle and nerve function. It also helps the body to control blood sugar levels.

Low magnesium levels may be more common in people with Type 2 diabetes. But does magnesium help neuropathy? The research on magnesium supplements for neuropathy symptoms still needs to be clarified. However, if you have diabetes, you should talk to your healthcare provider about checking magnesium levels.

6. CBD

Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, is one of the active ingredients you can find in cannabis. It is sold as an OTC product with less than 0.3% THC.

In the market, they sell CBD as a treatment for everything from insomnia to anxiety. However, another study shows that CBD applied to the skin may be more effective for neuropathy symptoms.

How to Choose an OTC Supplement?

Currently, no supplements are FDA approved for treating diabetic neuropathy symptoms. Thus, talking to your healthcare provider before you take one is essential. They may suggest you try medicines approved by the FDA for Neurotherapy first.

 

FAQ’s

1. What are the best vitamins for neuropathy in the feet?

Vitamins B-1, B-6, and B-12 are beneficial in treating neuropathy. Vitamin B-1, or thiamine, helps reduce inflammation and pain.

2. Should I take supplements for neuropathy?

Neuropathy is one debilitating condition that may affect all areas of your body. Taking neuropathy supplements depends on person to person.

 

Conclusion

Many OTC supplements help to improve diabetic neuropathy symptoms. However, currently, no supplement has received approval from FDA. Talk to your healthcare provider before trying any supplement or medication. You can get OTC supplements at a discount with Wise Rx pharmacy discount card.