Naturopathy and yoga-based interventions modify risk factors of peripheral neuropathy and improve nerve conduction among Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus patients

Background: With the high prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy among Type -2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients, diagnosis and management of subclinical peripheral neuropathy are gaining concern to prevent its complications. A wide variety of alternative lifestyle interventions emphasizing improving glycemic control, promoting weight loss, and a prudent diet were found to be effective in improving nerve conduction abnormalities individually. Objective: To study the impact of naturopathy and yoga intervention in the prevention and management of nerve damage among T2DM-associated neuropathic signs. Methods: In this matched control trial (gender and age-matched), 76 patients with subclinical diabetic peripheral neuropathy were recruited to (i) Intervention Group (IG), n=38 who received naturopathy and yoga-based interventions for 9 days, (ii) Control Group (CG), n=38 continued regular oral hypoglycemic medications. Neuroelectrophysiological parameters like amplitude and velocity of bilateral median motor and sensory and deep peroneal nerve, fasting blood glucose, postprandial blood glucose Homeostatic Model for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), steady state beta cell function (%B), and insulin sensitivity (%S) were assessed at baseline and after 9 days. Results: Weight, BMI, FBG, HOMA-IR, and %S significantly (p<0.05) improved among IG. In comparison, FBG, PPBG, %S, right median sensory amplitude, and left median sensory nerve conduction velocity had shown a significant difference between the groups. Conclusion: A significant reduction in modifiable risk factors of neuropathy like insulin resistance and weight after the intervention shows the effectiveness of lifestyle-based naturopathy and yoga intervention in preventing peripheral neuropathy among diabetics.