Painful versus numb diabetic nerve damage
Painful Versus Insensate Diabetic Neuropathy
A ketogenic diet that raises ketone fuels is being studied to see if it can prevent or reverse nerve pain and numbness in people with prediabetes or diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kansas Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kansas City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11283993 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team is testing whether a high-fat, low-carb ketogenic diet that increases ketone bodies like beta-hydroxybutyrate can protect or repair the small nerve fibers damaged in diabetic peripheral neuropathy. They feed ketogenic diets to mouse models of prediabetes and diabetes and measure nerve fiber loss, pain-like behaviors, and gait abnormalities. They also use genetically modified mice that cannot use ketones in sensory neurons to determine if ketones act directly on those nerves. If the mouse results are promising, the findings could guide future diet-based or metabolic trials in people, but human testing will be needed for confirmation.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with prediabetes or diabetes who are experiencing peripheral neuropathy symptoms such as burning pain, numbness, or gait problems would be the most relevant candidates for future trials informed by this work.
Not a fit: Patients whose neuropathy is caused by non-diabetic conditions, or who cannot follow a ketogenic diet for medical reasons, may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to dietary or metabolic treatments that reduce pain, restore sensation, and slow or reverse nerve fiber loss in diabetic neuropathy.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal studies and some metabolic research suggest ketones can support nerve health and reduce pain behaviors, but human evidence is limited and the approach remains emergent.
Where this research is happening
Kansas City, United States
- University of Kansas Medical Center — Kansas City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wright, Douglas E — University of Kansas Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Wright, Douglas E
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.