Micronized palmitoylethanolamide reduces the symptoms of neuropathic pain in diabetic patients.

The present study evaluated the effectiveness of micronized palmitoylethanolamide (PEA-m) treatment in reducing the painful symptoms experienced by diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy. PEA-m, a fatty acid amide of the N-acylethanolamine family, was administered (300 mg twice daily) to 30 diabetic patients suffering from painful diabetic neuropathy. Before treatment start, after 30 and 60 days the following parameters were assessed: painful symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy using the Michigan Neuropathy Screening instrument; intensity of symptoms characteristic of diabetic neuropathic pain by the Total Symptom Score; and intensity of different subcategories of neuropathic pain by the Neuropathic Pain Symptoms Inventory.

Movement in health: housing a diabetes centre within a gym (and vice versa).

Background: In Giarre, Sicily, we have created a diabetes center in which the medical center and exercise gym share the same physical space. When a patient leaves the doctor's office he/she immediately enters a functioning gym. In the present paper, we report on our experiences with this integrated medical/exercise approach.