Healthy Habits Help Damaged Nerves
Written By: American Academy of Neurology
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Published - Apr 19, 2006
University of Utah scientists say exercise and diet can reduce neuropathic pain and regenerate nerve fibers in patients with impaired glucose tolerance.
Impaired glucose tolerance, often called prediabetes, is found in 40 percent of patients with idiopathic neuropathy -- nerve damage with no identified secondary cause.
Impaired glucose tolerance neuropathy, IGTN, is characterized by loss of nerve fibers in the skin, and is painful. It is thought IGTN represents the earliest stage of diabetic neuropathy and does not improve with currently available treatment.
Patients with impaired glucose tolerance are at risk for developing diabetes, a risk which can be reduced with a program of diet and exercise counseling.
To test whether the regime might improve IGTN, the University of Utah's Dr. A. Gordon Smith and Dr. Rob Singleton studied 32 patients while they received individualized dietary and exercise counseling for one-year.
They found the number of nerve fibers improved by approximately one third, although patients with the worst loss of nerve fibers in their extremities did not improve. Overall, patients had reduced pain and better functioning of their sensory nerves.
The study was presented during American Academy of Neurology's 58th annual meeting in San Diego.