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idiopathic neuropathy and sugar, not a diabetic
Neuropathy | Last Active: Mar 9 8:31am | Replies (21)Comment receiving replies
I was diagnosed with PN in 2018. Lately I've noted increased pins-needles-burning feeling in the soles of my feet after eating anything with sugar and so have cut back on sugar. I told my neurologist about my new found sugar connection and he was unsure why I would experience these symptoms with sugar intake since I'm are not a diabetic. Anyway, will continue sugar control and see how things go.
Replies to "I was diagnosed with PN in 2018. Lately I've noted increased pins-needles-burning feeling in the soles..."
Glucose spikes and food sensitivities are unique to each individual. Doctors do not have much, if any, training in routine medical school about nutrition, foods and how they effect autoimmune illnesses. A nurse assigned to me related the story of her sister who had autoimmune and thyroid cancer. After having her thyroid removed a naturopath doctor helped her discover her food sensitivities. Once she avoided those foods, she no longer had issues.
A lot of people who start following a whole food plant based, low-fat diet with no sugar, caffeine, processed foods begin to have less pain and feel better. That is what I’ve done. The other day I deviated from protocol and the pain level returned.
There are a lot of articles and YouTube videos on the effects of sugar on autoimmune disease. The issue is the fructose portion (sugar is 50% glucose + 50% fructose). Look into it.
I also have more tingles if I "overload" on sugar. I am also not a diabetic or classified as insulin resistant. I have upped my fiber and watched my sugar. I still stretch and exercise. Having my brand new oven not working has helped this immensely (no baking,) I waited six months for the oven. Thanks covid.
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I have my issues with sugar also along with alcohol. I try to avoid both as much as possible but I do sometimes get those urges 🙂 I don't think you have to be a diabetic for sugar to damage nerves. I'm not a diabetic either but have been diagnosed with idiopathic small fiber PN but I only have the numbness and a little tingling.
"“High blood sugar is toxic to your nerves,” says pain management specialist Robert Bolash, MD. “When a nerve is damaged and misfiring, you may ..." --- How to Avoid Diabetic Neuropathy - Cleveland Clinic Health: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/high-blood-sugar-toxic-nerves-heres-avoid/
I've also been looking into the relationship between neuropathy and the metabolic syndrome which is another condition I've learned fits me. It seems to pull a lot of the symptoms and conditions together. If you are interested, here are a few links I've found.
The Metabolic Syndrome and Neuropathy: Therapeutic Challenges and Opportunities: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3881591/
Metabolic syndrome as a risk factor for neurological disorders
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21997383/