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December 10 2000
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Drug for Diabetic Neuropathy Doesn't Work

 

People who have diabetic neuropathy do not appear to benefit from a synthetic version of human nerve growth factor (rhNGF), according to a new study.

Researchers compared 418 patients who received injections of rhNGF three times a week for 48 weeks with 461 patients who received placebo injections.

Of those receiving the drug:

  • 31% of the patients improved
  • 38% worsened
  • 31% remained unchanged
These results were actually slightly worse than those experienced by patients who received placebo.

Patients who received rhNGF were also much more likely to have pain or sensitivity at the injection site, muscle aches, and swelling.

The drug is a genetically engineered version of a naturally-occurring growth factor that plays a major role in the development and maintenance of the peripheral nervous system.

The Journal of the American Medical Association November 1, 2000; 284: 2215-2221



Dr. Mercola Dr. Mercola's Comments:
This is a CLASSIC example of trying to use a "natural product" to treat a condition that has at its root a nutritional and exercise cause. People are by nature lazy and they are always searching for that "magic bullet" which will allow them to avoid taking personal responsibility for their lifestyle choices, such as diet and physical activity. The vast majority of adult onset type two diabetes would quickly disappear if people were following the diet program and doing one hour a day of cardiovascular exercise.

There are two other major examples in medicine which has a superficially "natural" therapy. The first is the use of interferon for MS and hepatitis C. The second is tumor necrosis factor for rheumatoid arthritis. Although these are "natural" therapies they can be every bit as deadly when forced on the body in a way that it was not designed to function with. Although these natural chemicals are in fact are a part of the healing process, the proper way to resolve the illness is to optimize the body through nutritional, structural, emotional and spiritual work so it can make these chemicals in the perfect amount and with the proper timing to resolve the illness.

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Exercise Reduces Diabetes by Reducing Insulin Resistance

New Type of Drugs to Combat Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes Rates Soaring and Occurring at a Younger Age

Stress in Middle-Age Increases Diabetes Risk

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