In West Michigan researchers have discovered a natural combination of supplements that helps control one of the major complications with diabetes neuropathy - that burning stabbing pain that many diabetics feel in their feet and legs.
The natural supplement is not only controlling the pain but in some cases its giving diabetics back the sensation they lost in their hands and feet.
Rick Wolner of Saranac is a runner. But in 2001 - after 8 years of successfully managing his type 2 diabetes with diet and exercise the racing ended, “It's like pain where someone is stabbing you all the time so you want to walk on your toes you don't want to walk on your heels."
Then he noticed numbing and tingling in his fingers. A diagnosis confirmed he had neuropathy, Dr. Michael David is the podiatrist with Foot and Ankle Specialists of West Michigan who diagnosed Wolner "It's quite frequent on a daily basis we have people who come in with numb feet or symptoms of burning or tingling."
In fact nearly 70% diabetics develop neuropathy within the first five years.
Dr. David and Dr. Mark Gostine of Michigan Pain Consultants conducted research right here in West Michigan and may have found a way to stop the pain.
Dr. David provided the patients, and Dr. Gostine the combination of supplements, "They are potent anti-oxidants they help neutralize free radicals."
For more than a year Dr. Gostine researched a natural supplement data base to find the five potent anti-oxidants that are stopping the pain, "In the back of my mind I believe that it's the lack of consumption of important nutrients that perhaps leads to the neuropathy."
After nearly 10 months of taking the all natural supplements Rick Wolner no longer has pain in his feet or tingling in his fingers.
Dr. David says this is a promising outcome, “This study is showing signs of reversing some of the symptoms not only the burning and tingling but the numbness."
For Rick Wolner it's just what he needed to get back to a pain free life.
The all natural supplements should be available by September.
Complete details of the study will be published in the August issue of the Journal of Practical Pain Management.
This isn't the first research Dr. Gostine has done with vitamins. Last year, he studied his patients with chronic pain and found 82% were deficient in vitamin D.
Vitamin D is necessary for strong bones and the absorption of calcium.
If you're not getting enough you're body begins to break down and that's where Dr. Gostine says the chronic pain comes from.
After prescribing vitamin D, Gostine's patients reported a significant decrease in muscle and joint pain.
Dr. Gostine says to see the benefits; patients need about 2,000 units a day, that's almost four times what adults currently get.
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Val Lego