Effect of lifestyle interventions on diabetic peripheral neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes, result of a randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Objectives: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is the most common and troublesome complication of diabetes leading to great morbidity and resulting in a huge economic burden for diabetes care. Over half of people with diabetes develop neuropathy. Also, DPN is a major cause of reduced quality of life due to pain, sensory loss, gait instability, fall-related injury, and foot ulceration and amputation. The aim of this study was evaluating the effects of lifestyle interventions on diabetic neuropathy severity in diabetes type 2 outpatients. Methods: This clinical trial conducted on 74 patients with DPN that divided with random allocation into intervention or control group. The lifestyle interventions applied in the intervention group beginning four educational sessions on lifestyle that emphasize strategies for lowering blood sugar, increasing physical activity, promoting weight loss, prudent diet, and foot caring. Each session was lasted for1.5 hour. Then patients followed for 12 weeks. During this period, they received counseling on mentioned lifestyle interventions. DPN severity in both groups measured using modified Toronto Clinical Neuropathy Score (mTCNS) at the beginning of study and at the end of counseling for 12 weeks. Results: Comparing differences of mean of DNP severity before and after lifestyle intervention between two groups of study, there was a significant difference (p<0.001). DNP severity in control group had not any change or it increased in some participants, but DNP decreased in intervention group, after applying lifestyle intervention. Conclusion: Lifestyle interventions can contribute to reducing DPN severity, and consequently decreasing neuropathic pain.