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.