To prevent diabetic polyneuropathy, attention must be paid to reducing individual risk factors.
Behavioral risk factors
- Diet
- Micronutrient deficiency (vital substances) – see Prevention with micronutrients.
- Consumption of stimulants
- Alcohol (= alcohol-associated polyneuropathy) → sensitive symptoms, such as numbness, stinging, or gait unsteadiness.
- Tobacco (smoking); moderate association between smoking and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN).
- Poor adjustment of serum glucose levels (blood glucose levels).
Environmental stress – intoxications (poisonings) → toxic polyneuropathy.
- Acrylamide – formed during frying, grilling and baking; used in the production of polymers and dyes.
- Arsenic
- Hydrocarbons
- Heavy metals such as lead, thallium, mercury
- Carbon disulfide
- Trichloroethylene
- Triorthocresyl phosphate (TKP)
- Bismuth (due tobismuth-containing dental material or in the case of long-term treatment with bismuth preparations).
Prevention factors (protective factors)
- Optimal glucose control: reduces the relative neuropathy risk of a type 1 diabetic by 78% and a type 2 diabetic by 5-9%.
