How to Treat Joint Pain for Aspartame Induced Diabetic Neuropathy

Aspartame is an artificial sweetener composed of three main elements: aspartic acid, phenylalanine and methanol. While aspartame is a popular additive to things such as sugarless gum and diet soda, studies performed at the University of Barcelona suggest that regular consumption can precipitate diabetes and aggravate existing conditions such as diabetic neuropathy. Once aspartame enters the digestive tract, it is broken down by gastric juices evolving into unpleasant chemical compounds such as formaldehyde and formic acid, which can cross the blood-brain barrier and affect a number of the body's functions.

Things You'll Need

• Glucose meter
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory pain medication

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Instructions

• 1

  Change your diet. Remove any sources of aspartame from your household. Check food labels. Directly below the list of ingredients you may see the following warning "contains phenylalanine." If so, the food item in question contains aspartame and should be discarded.

• 2

  Control your blood sugar level. Use your glucose meter and check your blood sugar level several times each day. Do what you can to stay within the guidelines established by the American Diabetes Association. Before meals, your glucose should be between 90 and 130, and then one to two hours after eating your meter should read 180 or less.

• 3

  Maintain a healthy weight and eat right. This will not only help control neuropathy, it will help to stabilize your blood sugar and lead to an overall improvement in your quality of life. Choose foods from all four food groups and watch your portions as it is very easy to underestimate the size of "one serving."

• 4

  Take an over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication, such as ibuprofen or aspirin, to help alleviate joint pain.

• 5

  Develop healthier habits by stopping smoking and participating in some form of physical exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, three times a week. This will improve your overall circulation and can hinder the progression of nerve damage. Additionally, regular exercise can reduce your blood pressure and lower your cholesterol.