I have neuropathy numbing the soles of my feet and causing a great deal of balance problems. Is there anything that can be done to improve the condition? Will it ever go away?
My doctor told me to take Thiamin 500mg x 2 a day. It is also known as B1 vitamin. Thi is known to help with the sensory nerves in the hands and feet. This is something you need to talk to your Dr and do research on though. I have been taking this for 3 years and it has helped alot. Good Luck!
I have neuropathy in my hands (well really my fingers). In addition to a B-complex with vitamin B1, I’ve started supplementing with 1000 mg of B12. I am on Metformin and it can mess with proper vitamin B12 absorption. Vitamin B12 deficiency is known to cause neuropathy and B12 is thought to have some role in treating diabetic neuropathy (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16008162).
I am facing the same issue! i am sorry i don’t have an answer but i felt like saying you’re not the only one! :3 =)
Fred,
Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA), sold as a supplement, can help heal neuropathy. It works by repairing the myelin sheath of nerves. ALA can also lower blood glucose.
With more normal BG, many peripheral neuropathies heal.
A caveat about B vitamins (not B12):
B6 over 200 mg raises BG & impairs nerve function (so does excess Vit C supplementation)
B3 (niacin) over 200 mg can raise BG
B1 over 200 mg can inactivate insulin
Great points Gerri. Here are some things I might add.
I also take ALA. It is recommended that ALA be taken with biotin. Many people swear by a particular form called insulow (http://www.insulow.com/) which you can get at amazon.
Vitamin B3 niacin is also the same as the niacin used in megadoses for cholesterol treatment. And Gerri is right, research shows it can raise your blood sugar. It is prescribed in doses of like 2grams for cholesterol treatment.
Gerri,
Many thanks for the information on neuropathy. I am going to buy ALA today.
Hope it helps. ALA has to be taken in fairly large doses to work. Afraid I don’t have the dosage info at the moment.
Hi Fred, we have seen Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) work as well at our diabetes center.
Getting glucose levels back in range will definitely help. We have seen people reverse the pain of neuropathy after getting better control of blood sugar. It does take some time though. but not too sure if you can get feeling back.
If you have numbing, the most important thing that you can do is to check everyday for cuts/ rashes and any injury. I have a relative that burned the underside of his foot and did not know about for 2 days because he did not feel it. He was lucky that it did not get infected.
Thank you for the response. I am currently taking a supplement that contains 25 mg of ALA. What dosage do you recommend?
The “Insulow” brand, which is recommended by Dr. Bernstein, contains 100 mg in a capsule and the recommended dose is 1-2 capsules with each meal (it’s supposed to improve insulin sensitivity – I didn’t see any change when using it though).
I’m not sure how much should be taken to treat neuropathy.
One point that I would make though is it is worth buying the more expensive ALA, which is called “R-Alpha Lipoic Acid”. It is slower acting, which means your body absorbs a lot more of it. The fast acting ALA seems tempting because it’s cheaper, but you will just urinate a lot of it out. My urine has a strange scent when I take ALA (which is like after eating asparagus) and I can tell that the scent is a lot stronger with the fast ALA compared to the R-ALA (which is what is contained in Insulow). So I recommend the Insulow brand or another type of R-ALA.
I have also read studies where high doses of benfotiamine (fat soluble B1) improve neuropathy. Because it is fat soluble you should be careful about not taking too much. I am still taking one a week as a preventative measure.
I just checked and Dr. Bernstein recommends 1800 mg per day (that would be 18 of my tablets!). You may be able to buy 200 mg tablets.
Hi Alan,
I’m sure they are fine. I don’t think that the ALA can hurt you – you will just urinate out what your body can’t absorb. (I may be wrong about this, but I don’t think that is a big problem.)
I got the ALA info from page 227-228 and 230 of Diabetes Solution – my version was published in 2003.
My endo prescribed ALA 300 mg twice a day. I haven’t tried it, tho. But the numbness in my feet went away after my BGs were under 200
Evening primrose oil is great for eczema. I take krill oil caps with evening primrose added.
Stay safe in the storm.
Interesting that he reduced the dose from 2003 version to the 2007 one 
Good to know!
After having read the many suggestions to take various supplements which I am sure is well intended assistance, I’d check with my PCP, Endocrinologist and Neurologist prior to taking any of them. Always keep in mind that they might have other effects, to include drug interactions that might impact the effect of any other medications that have been prescribed for you. In addition, some remedies have not been scientifically studied and might have unintended consequences. Your medical team will undoubtedly be the best available experts in coordinating and managing your care, and should be consulted prior to embarking on any treatment, including vitamin or other health therapy.
Be careful!
Just a comment that we should not deal in absolutes. The reason I say this, is I have lost my feet, ankles and half of my both my lower legs, with an A1c of 5 to 5.5 BP 100/60 for the last 5 months, and I am six foot tall, and weigh 195 pounds, after a dx of a ‘mere’ 6.8, yet still the neuropathy continues to get worse, so yes, Danny, you are probably right in most cases, but as one totally saddened, depressed, disabled, and suicidal by this ailment, I thought I would point out that the nerves will not always heal, and there is NO stopping neuropathy. That is pretty much spelled out in the research. In my case, I might as well eat, drink and be merry, and the hell with my A1c, for such a good number, has done nothing to abate the process…
Evening primrose, ALA, you name it, I have taken or am taking it, to no avail. Even Metanx, at $65 a month did nothing for me.
Sorry if that sounds obnoxious, its not meant to be. Its just a reaction I have when people say the way to stop it, is to get the BG, BP, and weight under control. That is not true in all cases and folks should be aware of that.
Back to the regularly scheduled discussion
John
Hi John,
So sorry to hear things have not improved. I was wondering how you were.
Not taking issue with anything you said at all, but there can be other causes of neuropathy besides diabetes & high BP. Diabetes seems to be at the root of most peripheral neuropathies.
I saw some results when I took a tablet of 300 mg. Was even better when I used 600 mg. I use PharmaPure found at Duane Reade.