Medical Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. Always work with your diabetes care team for management of neuropathy.
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy — nerve damage caused by chronic high blood sugar — affects up to 50% of people with long-standing type 2 diabetes. It causes pain, tingling, numbness, and weakness, predominantly in the feet and hands.
Chronic hyperglycaemia damages the small blood vessels that supply peripheral nerves, causing ischaemic nerve injury. Oxidative stress and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) further damage nerve sheaths.
By normalising blood glucose, keto removes the primary driver of neuropathic nerve damage. Several small studies and case reports show stabilisation or improvement of neuropathy symptoms in people with type 2 diabetes following ketogenic diets.
Established neuropathy takes months to years to improve even with excellent blood sugar control. Some improvement is possible; complete reversal of advanced neuropathy is unlikely. Prevention is far more effective than reversal.
B vitamins (from meat and eggs), alpha-lipoic acid (in small amounts from organ meats), and omega-3s (from fatty fish) support nerve health. Explore our keto main dishes and keto salads for nerve-supportive options.