Aunt Wu, 62 years old this year, has been suffering from diabetes for more than ten years. Over the years, she has always adhered to the doctor's instructions, taken her medication on time, and controlled her diet properly, so her blood sugar has been relatively stable, allowing her to maintain a certain quality of life.
However, a subtle change two years ago quietly broke her peaceful life. Aunt Wu began to feel something strange in her right leg, sometimes as if it had been lightly pricked by a thin needle, and sometimes as if it was an ant crawling gently on the skin.
The feelings weren't strong, but they were hard for her to ignore. However, due to her busy life and various other reasons, she didn't immediately link these symptoms to diabetes and didn't take it too seriously.
Until last week, the pain suddenly intensified, and Aunt Wu's right leg could barely be touched, and the pain kept her awake at night. Two or three times a night, the pain lasted only a few seconds, but the pain was tormenting her.
Finally, she decided to drop everything she had and go to the hospital to seek help from a doctor. After a detailed examination, the doctor diagnosed Aunt Wu with a common complication of diabetes - diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
This is a type of nerve damage caused by long-term high blood sugar, which is manifested by symptoms such as numbness and pain in the limbs. The doctor prescribed her a drug regimen such as methylcobalamin, and patiently instructed her on how to adjust her lifestyle and medication methods.
On the advice of her doctor, Aunt Wu began to take methylcobalamin on time. As time passed, she felt the numbness and pain in her feet gradually lessen. What exactly is methylcobalamin and why can it still treat the complications of diabetes?
01
Can methylcobalamin still treat diabetic neuropathy?
Methylcobalamin, the outstanding representative of endogenous vitamin B12, is absorbed and utilized in the human body as fast as lightning faster than traditional vitamin B12.
Its uniqueness lies in its strong nerve conductivity, as if it were an escort messenger tailored to the nervous system. Once in our body, methylcobalamin can quickly activate its miraculous function, accelerate the metabolism of folic acid and nucleic acids, and significantly improve the excitability and transmitter levels of the nervous system.
Diabetic neuropathy, a chronic and headache-inducing complication, is where methylcobalamin comes into play. As a peripheral neuropathy, it often invades the central nervous system and peripheral nerves of diabetic patients, accounting for more than 60% of all diabetic neuropathies.
Methylcobalamin, with its unique identity as active vitamin B12, can quickly enter nerve cells, promote the acceleration of nucleic acid and protein synthesis in neurons, bring hope for repair of damaged nerve cells, and improve nerve conduction speed.
In the process of treating diabetic neuropathy, methylcobalamin can not only effectively improve the symptoms and signs of various discomforts in patients, but also has minimal side effects, which has brought good news to many patients.
It is like a caring nurse, silently guarding the patient's nervous system, so that diabetic neuropathy patients can regain the joy and hope of life.
02
After nerve damage, is it better to take methylcobalamin or vitamin B1?
In life, nerve damage can sometimes become a stumbling block on the road to people's health. There are various reasons behind it, which can be the erosion of chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, or the overdraft of the body caused by overwork.
However, in the face of nerve damage, many patients may find a confusing phenomenon: the doctors prescribe different medications when it is clear that they are all nerve damage. This begs the question, what exactly is the difference between these drugs?
To unravel this mystery, we need to understand the specific mechanisms of action of these drugs. Vitamin B1, a nutrient that plays a key role in glucose metabolism, is essential for maintaining the proper functioning of nerve function.
Therefore, vitamin B1 is often used as the drug of choice for treatment when peripheral nerves are damaged. Not only can it help repair nerve damage caused by ischemia and hypoxia, but it also has a certain role in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, helping to alleviate the inflammatory response that may be triggered by nerve damage.
Methylcobalamin, on the other hand, is a drug that can penetrate deep into nerve cells, and its unique mechanism of action lies in repairing the myelin sheath of nerves. The myelin sheath of the nerve is an important structure that protects nerve cells, and its damage will directly affect the conduction of nerve function.
Methylcobalamin indirectly promotes the synthesis of nerve cells by promoting the repair of nerve myelin, thus performing well in improving peripheral nerve damage.
It can be seen that vitamin B1 and methylcobalamin have their own advantages in the treatment of nerve damage, and there is no absolute superiority or inferiority. Choosing which medication is more suitable requires a decision based on the patient's specific situation and the doctor's professional advice.
In some cases, a combination of the two drugs may even be considered to achieve a faster and more comprehensive nerve repair effect, providing stronger support for the treatment of nerve damage.
03
Precautions for taking vitamin B1 as well as methylcobalamin
First of all, when taking vitamin B1, there is a question of dosage. Excessive intake may lead to adverse effects such as gastrointestinal upset or allergic reactions.
Therefore, when taking vitamin B1, it is important to follow the advice of your doctor or dietitian to ensure that the dosage is moderate. At the same time, it should be used with caution for pregnant women, lactating women, and people with specific diseases, and under the guidance of a doctor.
Secondly, methylcobalamin, as a form of vitamin B12, also has its own unique precautions when taking it. Since methylcobalamin may cause irritation to the gastrointestinal tract, it is recommended to take it after a meal to reduce discomfort.
In addition, long-term high levels of methylcobalamin may lead to an excess of vitamin B12 in the body, which in turn can lead to a series of health problems. Therefore, it is essential to regularly monitor vitamin B12 levels in the body to ensure that they are within the normal range.