What I'm thinking is that if somehow this "diabetic cure" works on humans too, would that mean that the connection with the nervous system might in fact help those of us with peripheral neuropathy too (or maybe some of us who are idiopathic or pre-diabetic?) Intriguing!

from: http://scienceblogs.com/drcharles/20...r_diabetes.php

In a discovery that has stunned even those behind it, scientists at a Toronto hospital say they have proof the body's nervous system helps trigger diabetes, opening the door to a potential near-cure of the disease that affects millions of Canadians.

Diabetic mice became healthy virtually overnight after researchers injected a substance to counteract the effect of malfunctioning pain neurons in the pancreas.

"I couldn't believe it," said Dr. Michael Salter, a pain expert at the Hospital for Sick Children and one of the scientists. "Mice with diabetes suddenly didn't have diabetes any more."

The researchers caution they have yet to confirm their findings in people, but say they expect results from human studies within a year or so.

but I agree this is very exciting.

There are many causes of neuropathy. My take was that a "neuropathy" was
causing the pancreatic reactions! The word neuropathy meaning nerves with "problems" .

This was also posted on PD forum here.
There is more detail on this post:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/showthread.php?t=9024

Thanks for posting this type of information as I am sure it will enlighten all PN suffers who read it. Its very tempting to replace mayonnaise with capsaicin creme on my next BLT

Assuming, and that is still a very big if, that this approach works on humans, we are talking about Type I diabetes, not the more common Type II. Type I is a less common form of diabetes - used to be called juvenile diabetes. The main component is the complete failure of the pancreatic islet cells in producing insulin.

The treatment discussed could be a terrific boost for Type I sufferers, as the procedure may have the effect of eliminating islet cell inflammation that keeps the pancreas from producing insulin.

I read the reports about the trials with Type II diabetics and it is not at clear that this procedure will help diabetes in the same way, much less those with PN. I highly doubt much effectiveness for current DPN patients and certainly not any help for other forms of PN.

I don't want to rain on the parade, and indeed, this could turn out to be a dramatic breakthrough. But this is only the beginning of what will have to be a long journey. The procedure is not at all benign in terms of what it is doing, even though there are no reports of side effects. And I am a little concerned about the use of substance P in this way. We really know very little about this very perplexing neuropeptide.

Anyway, it will be very interesting to see what the next steps reveal.

Oh - and anyone contemplating using capsaicin, please, please do not do so until you have heard from those who have tried it - like David and myself.

rfinney

I was considering giving it another try. I tried it a few years ago and I think I remember that it seemed to do more harm than good. I was thinking about trying it again to make sure my memory was correct. rfinney - I would appreciate hearing your experience. Apparently it was a negative one?

about in the blog did make it to market.

It is called Emend and is for chemo induced nausea.
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic3/emend_cp.htm

It did not do well in trials for reducing Substance P levels in the brain for
depression. That was its first target.

However, its extremely high cost (hundreds/dose) limit its use off label for ANYTHING!

Also please notice that the capsaicin use is to stop the neurons from
affecting the islet cells. It is unclear to me what needs to be done to
stop the neurons themselves from mis-firing. Capsaicin was first used for
postherpetic neuralgia. This is a pretty severe form of pain. However, to stop burning pain, I can't see its usefulness ...since it burns like the devil itself!

I tried capsaicin a number of years ago. I had recently been diagnosed with PN and it was suggested by a few different folks, including my doc at the time. I was aware that there could be a reaction and I started with the low strength stuff.

The first time I tried it - just on my "better" foot - it really helped a lot. In fact, I remember thinking that this might really be a godsend. I started using it conservatively on both feet. The first 3-4 applications lowered my pain very significantly.

And then . . it happened . . . with no warning of any kind. I can remember the whole thing just like it was this morning. I was going to a movie after work with my wife. I was really looking forward to being able to watch it as I had been having trouble doing things like that, especially as it got later in the day.

I went into the restroom at the theater and put the stuff on, just as I had done the previous few times. Within a minute or two, I felt this intense burning in both of my feet. I immediately had to sit down in the lobby. The burning kept getting worse and I felt as if my feet were on fire. My wife got some ice and it only helped a little bit.

Now we were getting scared. My wife phoned my doctor and we got a call back quickly. I was advised to go home, lie down, and I had some medication to take, and so forth. I was not sure I could make it home. The only other option was to go to the ER - which was on the way home.

I got in the car, kept applying ice as best as I could - while trying not to scream so my wife could drive. I was going to go to the ER but then I decided to try and just make it home. I did - the next few hours were like heel on earth - but the burning finally started to recede.

Needless to say, that was the end of my adventure with capsaicin. I have since learned that my reaction is not at all uncommon for PN'ers.

rfinney