I am a diabetic and have just been diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy. Is there anything I can do to prevent worsening of my disease?

Asides from controlling your blood sugars, I highly recommend that you protect your feet. This is vital. This means regular care of your feet, gentle cleansing and protective shoes. You do not need those bogus prohibitively expensive shoes- just a pair which are comfortable and study. Diabetics should know that feet are just as important as the heart and the kidney. If you need any procedure done on your feet, do not go to a foot doctor first- go and see a bona fide vascular surgeon and let him determine the blood supply to your feet first.

Finally, please do not go for the $1,000 shoes that the foot doctors sell- it is nothing more than a scam.Aall you need is a decent pair of shoes which you can buy at Walmart. 

Can drinking alcohol increase my risk of developing diabetes?

Well it depends on how much you drink. Some studies show that if you drink no more than 2 drinks a day, the risk of diabetes is actually lowered. However, if you drink excess alcohol, the risk of diabetes is definitely increased. Too much alcohol can damage your liver and pancreas. Best advice, avoid more than one drink of alcohol a day.

My doctor has started me on Prandin for my diabetes; is there a generic form available?

Yes, it is called repaglinide and the drug works by releasing small amounts of insulin from the pancreas. Repaglinide is still not as effective as metformin and also many times more expensive.  

My doctor says I will benefit from the new diabetic drug combo –janumet XR. What do you think?

Last week the FDA formally approval of Jentadueto, which is a combination of lingaliptin and metformin. This week, the FDA approved use of janumet XR – which is an extended release combination of stiagliptin and metformin.

Sometimes I wonder if the FDA works for the public or the pharmaceutical industry. Every week newer drugs are approved. Most of these drugs have only been studied by people who have financial interest in these medications.
If your diabetes is well controlled with whatever you are taking, and you are compliant with your medications, I would say forget this new drug. 

Just because a new drug is introduced does not mean it is better. You can rest assured these new drugs are prohibitively expensive- only people who benefit are the people who sell it and the doctors who prescribe it.
My advice- walk, do not smoke, eat right and stick to your old diabetic regimen. This new diabetic combo is definitely not worth it.