Are Your Neuropathy Symptoms Caused By Sugar?

This article collaborates with the Food & Supplements For Neuropathy episode on our Dishing Up Nutrition (you can listen below). On that episode Melanie Beasley, a registered and GlycoCares Health Guideinsulin sensitivity support licensed dietitian, and Kara Carper, a certified nutrition specialist gave us background on what neuropathy is and the common symptoms associated with the condition. To learn about the specific connection of SUGAR to neuropathy, keep reading! Do You Feel Pain & Is It Neuropathy? One of the most common calls I get as a nutritionist is, "Help! What do I do to stop the tingling in my hands and feet? Are there supplements that will help? These clients are experiencing symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, or nerve damage. They are looking for a solution for the pain, often times with pain medications or a supplement. For this problem, the solution may lie in what you put in your grocery cart, pack in your lunch or plan to order at dinner tonight. Technically speaking, neuropathy is a result of damage to a nerve or set of nerves.



Your central nervous system is made up of your brain and your spinal cord. It's considered the processing center of your entire body. Your central nervous system receives sensory symptoms and information, processes it, and then responds by sending a message to your peripheral nervous system, all the other nerves in the body. If the peripheral nerves become damaged, the messages do not make it to its destination. This can often lead to weakness, numbness, unpleasant and often painful sensations, usually in hands and feet which are the furthest away from the brain and spinal cord. Nerve tissue damage can also manifest in restless leg syndrome, plantar fasciitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, migraine headaches and even Alzheimer's. So, what is causing this nerve damage? Peripheral neuropathy is an umbrella term for any condition, disease or disorder that affects your peripheral nerves, which are all the nerves outside of your spinal cord and brain. Peripheral nerve damage can lead to a variety of symptoms such as numbness, tingling, pain, and weakness, particularly in the hands and feet.



Peripheral neuropathy can result from a wide range of causes including traumatic injuries, infections, metabolic problems, inherited causes, exposure to toxins, and chemotherapy to treat cancer. One of the most common causes of peripheral neuropathy is diabetes. Diabetic neuropathy, a subtype of peripheral neuropathy, is specifically caused by frequent and chronic high blood sugar levels in individuals with diabetes. Over time, elevated Glyco Care Glucose Supportglucose metabolism levels damage the delicate nerve fibers, leading to diabetic neuropathy. This can affect nerves throughout the body, but most often the nerve damage is seen in the legs and feet. Symptoms can range from pain and numbness in the extremities to problems with your digestive system, urinary tract, Glyco Care blood sugar support vessels, and heart. For some people, these symptoms are mild; for others, diabetic neuropathy can be painful, disabling, and even fatal. So, while peripheral neuropathy refers to nerve damage in general without specifying a cause, diabetic neuropathy specifies that the nerve damage is a result of diabetes.



Neuropathy, or nerve damage, can present a wide range of symptoms, which vary depending on the type of nerves affected. There are three main types of nerves in the body: sensory nerves, motor nerves, and autonomic nerves, and each can be affected by neuropathy. Tingling or prickling sensations: Often described as a "pins and needles" feeling, usually starting in the hands or feet and possibly spreading upwards. Numbness: Especially in the hands or feet, which may spread up the arms or legs. Pain: Can be sharp, throbbing, or burning. Sensitivity to touch: Even light touches can be uncomfortable or painful. Problems with positional awareness: Difficulty sensing the position of your feet or hands, leading to challenges with coordination. Muscle weakness: Difficulty moving the affected part of the body. Muscle cramps and spasms: Uncontrolled muscle movements. Muscle wasting: Thinning of the muscles if neuropathy is severe or long-standing. Changes in blood pressure: Leading to dizziness or lightheadedness. Problems with sweating: Either excessive sweating or not being able to sweat.