Taken from the September/October 2014 issue of the Women's Health Activist Newsletter.

Numbness increases the risk of injury, especially to toes and feet. Combined with diabetics’ poor circulation and increased risk for infection, these injuries can lead to wounds that fail to heal, which can then require amputation of a diabetic’s toes, feet, and even legs!

Nerve pain is difficult to treat. Drugs for DN are often used in combination and include anti-seizure drugs (the effective ones are gabapentin and pregabalin),¹ antidepressants (i.e., duloxetine, tricyclic antidepressants), tramadol and other opioids (i.e., hydrocodone and oxycodone). But, all have side effects; worse, none work very well.

Scientific evidence supports several alternative treatments for DN, which we describe below. None is a magic cure, but they are all safe and deserve a try. We’ve focused on alternative treatments supported by multiple, randomized controlled trials that have been analyzed through systematic reviews or meta-analyses, and the references include links to full text articles or abstracts. Don’t be surprised if your doctor doesn’t know about these options, however. If you or someone you know has DN, bring this article and references to your health care provider.

Exercise

Exercise helps prevent DN progression, and balance exercises (like yoga or Tai Chi) also helps manage DN symptoms.² Small studies have shown benefit from the use of transcutaneous electrical neurostimulation (TENS) for DN,³ but not for the use of electromagnetic field therapy.⁴

Capsaicin

Capsaicin is what makes chili peppers hot; capsaicin in a cream or skin patch helps relieve nerve pain. A high-concentration (8%) prescription capsaicin treatment was found to be superior to placebo for chronic neuropathic pain.⁵ Lower-concentration over-the- counter creams (0.25 to 0.75% capsaicin) also help some people.⁶ Non-prescription creams should be applied several times daily. Wash your hands afterwards and avoid touching your eyes or other sensitive areas (yikes!). (This reminds us of a funny story about cooking with chili peppers…)

Dietary Supplements

Dietary supplements include herbs, vitamins and amino acids; these are not regulated in the same way drugs are, and are rarely approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treatment. Physicians and other health care providers are not educated about dietary supplements, so we’ve done some research for you and your doctor.

Alpha-lipoic Acid

Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is an antioxidant that helps both the signs (i.e., things that can be measured) and symptoms (i.e., things that patients experience) of DN. A systematic review of 15 trials of 300 - 600 mg of ALA per day, taken intravenously, found it was better than placebo in improving nerve function and symptoms. An oral dose of 600 mg daily also appears to be effective; a study of 460 patients that lasted 4 years found the treatment provided some improvement and was tolerable.^7,8 No serious adverse events were reported; a few people reported having upset stomachs.⁹ There is a concern that ALA might increase heart arrhythmias, however.

Vitamin B12

Several B vitamins, including vitamin B12 (cobalamin) and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) are important for healthy nerves.  Many older people are deficient in vitamin B12, especially if they are taking medications to reduce stomach acidity. Most studies used intravenous treatments, but B12 absorption is also effective sublingually (taken under the tongue). A meta-analysis found that ALA and B12 were more effective when they are used together.¹⁰

Vitamin D

Vitamin D deficiency is widespread among diabetics, particularly among those with DN.^11,12 There haven’t been large trials of vitamin D for DN, but it’s safe to take up to 1000 IUs a day, and worth a try. Vitamin D is fat-soluble (i.e., it is only absorbed when taken with fat or oil). Note, however, that we are notrecommending taking it with a doughnut!

What We Recommend

Talk to your health care provider about trying one or a combination of alternative treatments. Here are doses we recommend; try each one — or a combination — for 4 to 6 weeks and see if it helps:

• Alpha-lipoic acid: 300-600 mg/day
• B-complex vitamin
• Vitamin B12: 1000 mcg/day, sublingually
• Vitamin D: 1000 IUs/day, taken with food
• Capsaicin cream: 0.75% applied to painful areas 3 times a day.

How do the therapies we’ve discussed stack up against drugs? We couldn’t find comparative studies, and think this should be a priority. We urge the National Institutes of Health to fund research that compares these alternative treatments for DN to the use of drugs. In addition, educating physicians and patients about effective DN treatments can help people and probably lower treatment costs, too!

Charlea T. Massion, MD, is a practicing physician in Santa Cruz County specializing in hospice and palliative care. Charlea brought her passion for improving women’s health along with 40+ years of health care experience to the NWHN as a member of the board for 8 years. She also co-founded the American College of Women’s Health Physicians.

Adriane Fugh-Berman, MD, is a former NWHN Board Chair whose research presents a critical analysis of the marketing of prescription drugs. Adriane educates prescribers on pharmaceutical marketing practices as Director of the PharmedOUT program, and created the Health in the Public Interest program at Georgetown University School of Medicine where she trains a new generation of consumer advocates.

Read more from Charlea T. Massion and Adriane Fugh-Berman.

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