Regular exercise reduces the development of painful diabetic neuropathy in animals—apparently related to increased expression of a protective substance called “heat shock protein” 72 (Hsp72), reports an experimental study in the February issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia, official journal of the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS).

The observations add to previous studies suggesting that “progressive exercise training markedly decreased diabetes associated neuropathic pain,” write Yu-Wen Chen, PhD, of China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, and colleagues. The link to Hsp72 offers a clue as to how exercise can prevent or slow the development of neuropathy—a major complication of diabetes.

Exercise Reduces Diabetic Nerve Pain in Rats
Neuropathic pain is a common and difficult-to-treat type of pain related to nerve damage—most commonly caused by diabetes. Affecting about half of patients with diabetes, diabetic neuropathy causes symptoms such as numbness, tingling, or pain in the arms and legs.… [Continue Reading]