It’s being called a breakthrough treatment for people suffering painful and debilitating nerve damage from diabetes. One man almost had to have his foot amputated, but a local doctor — one of a few in the nation — changed his life.
Three months ago, Edwynne Murphy could barely walk. Living with diabetes for more than 30 years, he developed an ulcer on his foot.
“The ulcer on my foot had gone all the way through to the bone and everybody was concerned. If it continued on that (the doctor) might amputate my foot,” said Murphy.
Murphy suffered from diabetic neuropathy. More than 20 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes, and nearly half have some form of neuropathy — a condition in which nerves swell and become damaged.
“Imagine taking a balloon like you’d blow up and make into a hat for a party. Put it through a small napkin ring and begin to blow it up. (That simulates the) swelling of your nerve. The “nerve” gets compressed at the napkin ring,” said Dr. Robert Hagan of the Dellon Institute at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center in Creve Coeur.
In the past, medication and — worst-case scenario — amputation were the only ways to treat the progressive and irreversible condition.
Dr. A. Lee Dellon from Johns Hopkins University found a way to decompress the nerves. He’s opened six clinics, including the one at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center.
“We make four small incisions and through (the) incisions we actually have access to eight nerve branches in your leg and in your foot,” says Hagan.
And during the one and a half hour outpatient procedure, doctors decompress the nerves.
“It’s truly going to change the natural history course of diabetic neuropathy and how it affects our extremities,” says Hagan.
That includes patients like Murphy, who is now able to walk one mile to work.
For more information on the Dellon Institutes, click here.
Most people know that diabetes means that the body cannot produce enough insulin. But what people may not know is how the disease can impact oral health. According to the American Diabetes Association, more than 14 million Americans currently suffer from the disease, while 6.2 million cases remain undiagnosed. And that number, say experts, may climb as high as 31 million by the year 2050. Most diabetics understand the risks and complications associated with the disease. But one condition that may not get much attention is xerostomia, or dry mouth, which is caused by the mouth not producing enough saliva. Saliva contains enzymes and proteins that help control the bacteria in our mouths to help prevent oral infections, dental decay and gum disease. But in diabetics, higher sugar levels in the blood and saliva encourage bacterial growth. “There is an increased risk for poor oral health in diabetics,” said Dr. Sol Silverman, professor of oral medicine at University of California, San Francisco, who emphasizes the importance of diet and blood sugar control, good oral hygiene and maintaining mouth moisture for comfort and control of oral disease. In addition, dental researchers say there may be a link between dry mouth and medications used to treat diabetics. According to recent studies, three-fourths of those who suffer from diabetes also have high blood pressure, and most drugs used to treat hypertension can cause the salivary glands to produce less saliva. Dryness can also be intensified by the use of other drugs, such as antidepressants and antihistamines. For diabetics, it is a vicious cycle. But help is available. Products have been developed to help protect a diabetic or dry mouth sufferer. Biotene dry mouth toothpaste, mouthwash, chewing gum and Oral Balance dry mouth moisturizing gel are especially made for these conditions. These antibacterial products contain salivary enzymes and proteins, which boost and replenish saliva’s defense system while inhibiting harmful bacteria growth, and fight the causes and effects of gingivitis, an inflammation of the gums. The products are alcohol-free so they won’t irritate an already sensitive dry mouth. Biotene and Oral Balance are both available over the counter.
If you have diabetes, changing your diet may help treat the disease, according to a new book.
NewsCenter 5’s Heather Unruh reported Thursday that the book “Dr. Neal Barnard’s Program for Reversing Diabetes” claims the strict vegan diet may even reverse diabetes.
Diabetes is a disease that affects millions of Americans, but what you eat could help prevent it.
“With this diet, you learn some new way of eating, but you’re never hungry. There’s no limit on calories or carbs or portions,” said Barnard, of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
Barnard said sticking to a low-fat vegan diet can help you manage, and possibly even reverse, your diabetes. The new book details this latest approach.
“With a vegan diet what we mean is a diet that sets aside the animal products, no meat, no dairy, no eggs, and that gets rid of all the animal fat,” Barnard said.
Yo? can eat vegetables and fruits, grains and legumes.
“We take the fat out of the diet, and the insulin resistance seems to go away,” Barnard said.
New research found people with type 2 diabetes who cut out meat and dairy lowered their blood sugar more and lost more weight than people who followed the traditional diabetes diet. Almost half of vegan dieters were able to stop taking medication altogether.
There’s no cutting carbs or portions. But dietician Karen Chalmers said even though the diet works, the challenge is getting people to follow it.
“Even though people know eating fiber is beneficial or that cutting down on fat is going to be beneficial in the long run, it doesn’t mean they’re going to be able to do it on a day-to-day basis,” Chalmers said.
Even if a vegan doesn’t work for you, Joslin experts said what does work is exercise.
“It does many things. It lowers blood pressure. It lowers stress. Exercise can help you manage your weight. There are so many benefits to exercise,” Joslin Clinic’s Cathy Carver said.