Diabetes comes along with many complications. One of the most well-known complications is diabetic neuropathy. Neuropathy occurs when the nerves, which transport information from one part of the body to the brain, become damaged and can no longer serve their function. The symptoms of neuropathy usually include numbness and tingling in the affected area.
Many diabetes patients fear neuropathy because, when it is left unchecked, it can lead to amputation.
The best way to prevent this from happening is to first maintain controlled blood glucose. Hyperglycemia causes serious damage to blood vessels, which ultimately leads to such complications as neuropathy.
But what if you already have that tingling sensation in your toes? Then you will want to try and find something that promotes nerve regeneration.
Seal Oil Promotes Nerve Regeneration
A recently published study examined the effects of omega-3 fatty acids as a way to support nerve growth and healing. The interesting part about this study is not that the supplementation proved effective but that the oil came from seals.
Seal oil comes from the fatty tissue of the mammal. The fatty acids from seal oil do 
not need to be converted in the body and therefore can be used more efficiently. The controversy over the manufacturing process, however, remains a deterrent for many. (Because who wants to contribute to the murder of cute seals just for a little bit of oil??)
In the study, patients who took seal oil supplementation twice a day for a 12-month period significantly increased nerve fiber length by the end of the study.
This news is huge. A lot of times, when patients are diagnosed with neuropathy, it is seen as a one-way journey that can only end badly. There are currently no remedies for nerve damage caused by diabetes.
Now, however, researchers are discovering ways to not only cut that journey short but also to change the direction.
This study is the first of its kind, though. The study focused on nerve damage to the eye and only measured nerve growth, not recovered vision. So at the moment, the results are extremely narrow and cannot necessarily be applied to the masses of people with diabetic neuropathy.
They can, however, promise exciting research in the future. Perhaps there will be a simple way to protect yourself from rapid nerve deterioration in the near future!
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Science Daily. URL Link. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
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