How could diet affect diabetic neuropathy?

    Last Updated: October 25, 2023

    Lifestyle behavior change improves blood glucose control in people with diabetic neuropathies.[1][2] This includes an individualized diet to help patients lose weight and minimize postprandial (after-meal) rises in blood glucose concentrations.

    Specific micronutrients might also play a role. For example, deficiencies in vitamin D [3][4][5][6] and vitamin B12 [7] are associated with an increased risk of diabetic neuropathy. Therefore, people with diabetes who don’t consume vitamin D-containing foods (oily fish, egg yolks, liver, etc.), or who eat a plant-based diet that excludes meat, might be at a greater risk of diabetic neuropathy. However, studies are needed to test these hypotheses.

    References

    1. ^, Draznin B, Aroda VR, Bakris G, Benson G, Brown FM, Freeman R, Green J, Huang E, Isaacs D, Kahan S, Leon J, Lyons SK, Peters AL, Prahalad P, Reusch JEB, Young-Hyman D12. Retinopathy, Neuropathy, and Foot Care: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes-2022.Diabetes Care.(2022-01-01)
    2. ^Pop-Busui R, Boulton AJ, Feldman EL, Bril V, Freeman R, Malik RA, Sosenko JM, Ziegler DDiabetic Neuropathy: A Position Statement by the American Diabetes Association.Diabetes Care.(2017-01)
    3. ^Yammine K, Abi Kharma J, Kaypekian T, Assi C, Zeeni NIs diabetic neuropathy associated with vitamin D status? A meta-analysis.Br J Nutr.(2022-04-14)
    4. ^Lv WS, Zhao WJ, Gong SL, Fang DD, Wang B, Fu ZJ, Yan SL, Wang YGSerum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and peripheral neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.J Endocrinol Invest.(2015-May)
    5. ^Qu GB, Wang LL, Tang X, Wu W, Sun YHThe association between vitamin D level and diabetic peripheral neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: An update systematic review and meta-analysis.J Clin Transl Endocrinol.(2017-Sep)
    6. ^Zhang B, Zhao W, Tu J, Wang X, Hao Y, Wang H, Zhao Y, Mizuno K, Tseng Y, Bu HThe relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration and type 2 diabetic peripheral neuropathy: A systematic review and a meta-analysis.Medicine (Baltimore).(2019-Nov)
    7. ^Stein J, Geisel J, Obeid RAssociation between neuropathy and B-vitamins: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Eur J Neurol.(2021-06)