Can You Cure Peripheral Neuropathy by Reversing Your Diabetes?

If you have diabetes and have started feeling numbness, tingling, or burning in your hands or feet, you’re probably asking the same question hundreds of our patients have asked us: is diabetic neuropathy reversible? If you can get your diabetes under control — or even into remission — can you also undo the nerve damage that’s already developed?

The honest answer is more nuanced than yes or no, and it’s worth getting right. Overconfident “yes, we can cure your neuropathy” promises are common in chiropractic marketing, but they set patients up for disappointment and don’t match what the evidence actually supports. Underconfident “nothing can be done” is also wrong — there’s a meaningful amount that can be done, particularly when patients catch the condition early and combine medical management of their diabetes with the right adjunctive care. This article walks through what’s actually possible.

What Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy Actually Is

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is nerve damage caused by chronically elevated blood sugar levels. Over time, high glucose injures the small blood vessels that supply your peripheral nerves, starving the nerves of the oxygen and nutrients they need to function — and eventually damaging the nerve fibers themselves. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), about half of people with diabetes develop some form of nerve damage during their lifetime.

The condition develops slowly, typically over years. Most patients experience symptoms first in their feet, then progressing up the legs and sometimes affecting the hands as well — what clinicians call the “stocking-glove” distribution pattern.

The Symptoms of Diabetic Neuropathy, by Category

Diabetic neuropathy affects three different categories of nerves, and symptoms differ depending on which nerves are involved. Most patients have a mixed pattern.

Sensory symptoms (most common)

• Numbness or reduced ability to feel pain or temperature changes, especially in the feet
• Tingling or burning sensations
• Sharp pains or cramps, often worse at night
• Increased sensitivity to touch — for some patients even the weight of a bedsheet becomes painful
• Loss of balance and coordination (because you can’t fully feel your feet)

Motor symptoms

• Muscle weakness, particularly in the feet and lower legs
• Muscle wasting in advanced cases
• Difficulty walking, especially on uneven surfaces
• Foot deformities from imbalanced muscle function

Autonomic symptoms (often unrecognized as diabetic neuropathy)

• Bladder problems — difficulty sensing fullness, urinary retention, incontinence
• Sexual dysfunction — erectile dysfunction in men, vaginal dryness in women
• Blood pressure changes — dizziness when standing up
• Digestive issues — nausea, vomiting, bloating, constipation, or diarrhea
• Abnormal sweating — excessive or decreased
• Inability to sense low blood glucose (a particularly dangerous complication)
• Heart rate changes
• Vision changes

Many patients are unaware that the autonomic category exists as part of diabetic neuropathy. The Mayo Clinic’s diabetic neuropathy resource goes deeper on the four main subtypes (peripheral, autonomic, proximal, and mononeuropathy) if you want a more comprehensive medical reference.

Can Type 2 Diabetes Be “Reversed”?

Important terminology first. The 2021 American Diabetes Association consensus statement updated the language clinicians use for this: “remission” rather than “reversal.” The distinction matters because remission isn’t necessarily permanent — it requires sustained lifestyle changes to maintain, and can be lost if those changes don’t stick.

That said, the underlying possibility is real: Type 2 diabetes can go into clinical remission through significant lifestyle interventions (substantial weight loss, dietary changes, increased physical activity), bariatric surgery, and certain medication regimens. The most reliable predictors are time since diagnosis (earlier intervention works better), starting body weight (more weight loss potential = more remission potential), and starting blood sugar control.

What about Type 1 diabetes? Type 1 diabetes cannot be reversed. It’s an autoimmune condition in which the pancreas no longer produces adequate insulin, and patients require insulin for life. Lifestyle changes and good management can dramatically improve outcomes and reduce complications, but the underlying condition is permanent.

So Can Diabetic Neuropathy Be Reversed?

Now we get to the honest answer: rarely fully reversed, but often significantly improved.

Here’s what determines how much improvement is realistically possible:

Stage of nerve damage matters most

Early-stage diabetic neuropathy — recent onset, subtle symptoms, before significant axonal damage has occurred — has the most reversal potential. Catching the condition in the first year or two and aggressively managing diabetes alongside targeted neuropathy treatment can sometimes produce near-complete resolution of symptoms.

Established neuropathy — symptoms present for years, axonal damage already developed, possibly progressive — typically improves with treatment but doesn’t fully restore to baseline function. The realistic goal is meaningful symptom reduction, prevention of further progression, and restoration of as much function as the remaining healthy nerve tissue allows.

Blood sugar control is the foundation

This is the single biggest determinant of how much improvement is possible. Continued high blood sugar continues to damage nerves; bringing blood sugar under tight control stops the damage progression and gives the body the metabolic environment it needs for whatever nerve repair is possible. No amount of adjunctive treatment can compensate for ongoing poorly-controlled blood sugar.

This is why we coordinate so closely with patients’ endocrinologists and primary care providers — and why we won’t take on a patient whose diabetes management isn’t in place.

Adjunctive treatment can support the nerve repair that is possible

Once blood sugar is controlled, targeted treatment can support the nerve healing process. Our peripheral neuropathy treatment program combines multiple modalities specifically aimed at supporting nerve repair: medical-grade Low-Level Laser Therapy (which stimulates new blood vessel formation around damaged nerves through VEGF/angiogenesis), nerve re-education therapy, targeted nutritional support, and customized in-clinic and at-home protocols. (For the full clinical picture of how chiropractic care for peripheral neuropathy works, see our blog on chiropractic treatment for peripheral neuropathy.)

Why Aggressive Treatment Matters — Even When Full Reversal Isn’t Possible

If full reversal isn’t realistic for most patients, why pursue treatment at all? Because diabetic neuropathy is a progressive condition with serious complications that get dramatically worse the longer it’s left unaddressed.

The complications that develop from untreated diabetic neuropathy:

• Foot ulcers and infections. When you can’t feel your feet, you don’t notice cuts, blisters, or pressure injuries. Wounds get infected. Infections progress to soft tissue and bone.
• Amputation. Diabetic neuropathy is the leading cause of non-traumatic lower-limb amputation in the United States.
• Falls and fractures. Loss of balance and proprioception increases fall risk substantially, particularly in older patients.
• Cardiovascular complications. Autonomic neuropathy affecting heart rate and blood pressure regulation increases cardiovascular risk.
• Loss of low-blood-sugar awareness. Severe autonomic neuropathy can eliminate the warning signs of hypoglycemia, increasing risk of dangerous low-blood-sugar episodes.
• Quality of life impact. Chronic pain, sleep disruption, sexual dysfunction, digestive issues — the cumulative toll on daily life is substantial.

Every step you take toward better blood sugar control AND targeted neuropathy treatment reduces these risks. Even when full reversal isn’t possible, slowing progression and preventing complications is a meaningful goal in its own right. (For more on why neuropathy needs to be taken seriously rather than waited out, see our blog on the seriousness of peripheral neuropathy.)

What Apex’s Diabetic Neuropathy Approach Looks Like

Initial Evaluation

Every new patient starts with the 3 Part NeuroTECH Exam combined with a thorough neuropathy-specific assessment. We document the current stage of neuropathy, identify the specific nerve patterns involved, and develop an honest assessment of what’s realistic in your situation. The exam takes about an hour, including time to discuss findings with you.

Coordination With Your Medical Team

We don’t replace your endocrinologist, PCP, or other specialists — we coordinate with them. For patients whose diabetes management isn’t yet appropriately handled, we’ll ask you to get that piece in place before starting neuropathy treatment, because adjunctive care can’t compensate for ongoing nerve damage from uncontrolled blood sugar.

The Four-Prong Treatment Protocol

For patients who are good candidates, our treatment combines four coordinated components: Electromagnetic Infrared Therapy (medical-grade LLLT that stimulates VEGF and new blood vessel formation around damaged nerves), Nerve Re-Education Therapy, Advanced Nutrition Therapy (targeted nutrient support for nerve repair), and a customized in-clinic and at-home program. (Our broader peripheral neuropathy treatment program page goes into deeper detail on each component.)

Lifestyle Support

Diabetic neuropathy is downstream of diabetes, and diabetes is downstream of broader lifestyle factors — diet, exercise, sleep, stress management, weight. Our work with diabetic neuropathy patients includes support for the lifestyle pillars that ultimately determine long-term outcomes. (For the foundational framework, see our take on the 5 pillars of health.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Type 1 diabetic neuropathy reversible?

Type 1 diabetes itself cannot be reversed — it’s autoimmune and requires lifelong insulin management. The neuropathy that develops from Type 1 diabetes follows similar patterns to Type 2 diabetic neuropathy and responds to similar adjunctive treatments, but the underlying diabetes management framework is different. Tight glycemic control on insulin therapy is the foundation; targeted neuropathy treatment can be added to support symptom improvement.

What about Type 2?

Type 2 diabetic neuropathy has more potential for meaningful improvement, because the underlying Type 2 diabetes can sometimes go into remission with significant lifestyle changes or bariatric surgery. Patients who achieve diabetes remission AND pursue targeted neuropathy treatment have the best outcomes. Patients whose diabetes remains poorly controlled have the worst — even with aggressive neuropathy treatment.

How long until I see improvement?

It varies. Some patients report meaningful reduction in pain, tingling, or burning sensation within the first few weeks. Sustained improvement and functional recovery typically develops over three to six months of consistent treatment. Nerve repair is biologically slow — peripheral nerves regrow at roughly one millimeter per day under optimal conditions — so patience and consistency matter.

Will I still need my diabetes medications?

That’s a conversation between you and your endocrinologist or PCP, not something we make recommendations about. Some patients who achieve significant diabetes remission through lifestyle changes are able to taper or discontinue medications under medical supervision. Many continue medications indefinitely. Never adjust diabetes medications on your own — the risks of poorly-managed blood sugar are too significant.

Can I have chiropractic care if I have diabetes complications?

Usually yes, with appropriate precautions and coordination with your medical team. Patients with diabetic ulcers, recent infections, severe vascular complications, or active acute issues need those conditions stabilized first. Our intake screens for these and refers when appropriate. For most stable patients with chronic diabetic neuropathy, the treatment we offer is safe and well-tolerated.

What about chemo-induced neuropathy?

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) responds similarly to diabetic neuropathy to our treatment protocol — the underlying mechanism of nerve repair through angiogenesis is the same. We work with cancer patients in coordination with their oncologists through our cancer support services program.

How is this different from other neuropathy programs I’ve seen advertised?

Most “miracle cure” neuropathy programs you’ll see advertised online or on TV are versions of LLLT therapy alone, often sold at high cost. The LLLT component of our program is part of a four-prong approach combining light therapy with nerve re-education, nutrition support, and personalized care planning — which produces better outcomes than single-modality LLLT alone. We’re also upfront about realistic expectations, which most advertising-driven neuropathy programs aren’t.

What does the first visit look like?

See our complete walkthrough of what to expect on your first day. For neuropathy patients specifically, the first visit centers on the 3 Part NeuroTECH Exam, full medical history including diabetes management details, and an honest discussion of what realistic outcomes look like in your situation.

About the Author

Dr. Shane Kurth, D.C., BCN is the founder of Apex Chiropractic in Louisville, Colorado, and is board-certified in chronic intractable pain and neuropathy — the specific credential most relevant to the care of diabetic neuropathy patients. A graduate of Auburn University with a degree in microbiology, Dr. Kurth has built one of Boulder County’s leading chiropractic practices around neurologically-based care using the research-driven Torque Release Technique. He has been voted Best Chiropractor in Boulder County for ten consecutive years by the readers of Boulder Weekly.

Apex coordinates with patients’ endocrinologists, primary care physicians, and other specialists throughout treatment — we’re an adjunctive resource for diabetic neuropathy symptom management, not a replacement for medical diabetes care. Dr. Kurth treats patients across Louisville, Superior, Lafayette, Broomfield, Erie, Weld County, and the greater Boulder area. He is an active member of the International Chiropractic Association (ICA) and the International Federation of Chiropractors & Organizations (IFCO). Learn more about Dr. Kurth →