What are some of the main medical treatments for diabetic neuropathy?

    Last Updated: October 25, 2023

    There are no specific treatments for nerve damage, but lowering hyperglycemia (persistently high blood glucose concentrations) reduces the risk of diabetic neuropathy.[1][2][3] Therefore, the main treatment is to improve blood glucose control using lifestyle behavior change (diet, exercise, and weight management counseling) and glucose-lowering drugs.[4][5] 

    Since diabetic neuropathies can impair sensation, healthcare providers regularly examine patients’ feet for signs of damage to help prevent diabetic foot ulcers. To treat pain associated with diabetic neuropathies, pain-reducing medications (e.g., pregabalin or duloxetine) are used to improve quality of life.[6][7] Reducing pain also helps patients increase their levels of daily physical activity, which improves blood glucose control.[8]

    References

    1. ^Callaghan BC, Little AA, Feldman EL, Hughes RAEnhanced glucose control for preventing and treating diabetic neuropathy.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.(2012-Jun-13)
    2. ^Balducci S, Iacobellis G, Parisi L, Di Biase N, Calandriello E, Leonetti F, Fallucca FExercise training can modify the natural history of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.J Diabetes Complications.(2006)
    3. ^Tatikola SP, Natarajan V, Desai VK, Asirvatham AR, Rajsekhar HEffect of various exercise protocols on neuropathic pain in individuals with type 2 diabetes with peripheral neuropathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Diabetes Metab Syndr.(2022-Sep)
    4. ^, 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)
    5. ^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)
    6. ^Finnerup NB, Attal N, Haroutounian S, McNicol E, Baron R, Dworkin RH, Gilron I, Haanpää M, Hansson P, Jensen TS, Kamerman PR, Lund K, Moore A, Raja SN, Rice AS, Rowbotham M, Sena E, Siddall P, Smith BH, Wallace MPharmacotherapy for neuropathic pain in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Lancet Neurol.(2015-Feb)
    7. ^Griebeler ML, Morey-Vargas OL, Brito JP, Tsapas A, Wang Z, Carranza Leon BG, Phung OJ, Montori VM, Murad MHPharmacologic interventions for painful diabetic neuropathy: An umbrella systematic review and comparative effectiveness network meta-analysis.Ann Intern Med.(2014-Nov-04)
    8. ^Umpierre D, Ribeiro PA, Kramer CK, Leitão CB, Zucatti AT, Azevedo MJ, Gross JL, Ribeiro JP, Schaan BDPhysical activity advice only or structured exercise training and association with HbA1c levels in type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.JAMA.(2011-May-04)