Benjamin Franklin: Neuropathy Sufferer: Who Knew!

Today's post from thefoodrealityblog.wordpress.com (see link below) is one that may surprise you. We're always looking for neuropathy 'role models' and they're about as public and easy to find as hen's teeth. Who knew then that a good role model (at least in terms of the history of the disease) comes from 250 years ago! This article talks about Benjamin Franklin and his struggles with gout, which was basically the accepted term for diabetic neuropathy. We know what he went through and it's interesting to see how his diet directly affected his nervous system - problem is that his diet is not so very far removed from what many people eat today. Irrespective of what the cause of your neuropathy is, the symptoms would have been the same as you suffer today - nevertheless, might be worth having a look at your dietary habits  - diabetes can strike, no matter how many other illnesses you have!

Benjamin Franklin, The Father of Diabetic Neuropathy
This entry was posted on July 26, 2015 by C Katt Krespach,

Like most of us, Benjamin Franklin was health conscious in his early adult life. Writing under the pen name of Poor Richard, he offered such health-conscious phrases as, no pain, no gain. But, healthy living just cannot be listed as one of his accomplishments worthy of following.

His alter ego Poor Richard, had repeatedly preached moderation in his Almanack, and for the most part Franklin seemed to follow Poor Richard’s advice—at least into middle age. But sometime during his years as the foreign liaison to France, his diet became grossly indulgent and so began his parry with diabetic neuropathy.

“For most of his adult life, Ben Franklin suffered from Gout (a symptom of Type 2 Diabetes, and a co-creator of Diabetic Neuropathy) This painful nerve disease is often caused by indulgent eating and moderate to heavy alcohol consumption coupled with dehydration.

The Standard American Diet (S.A.D.)

“Franklin enjoyed red meats and rich foods, and often indulged in them. A good meal for him might have included hors d’oeuvres, beef, mutton, veal, fish, cheeses, butter, pastries, bonbons, and other sweets.”(1)

Doesn’t this diet sound remarkably similar to our own, filled with processed meats, pizza, dining out at restaurants, chips, fried food… etc? And let’s not forget the beer and wine.

“Particularly telling are the notes of the Duc de Croÿ, who visited him in France in 1779, while he was recovering from a severe gout attack. He wrote that Franklin ate only one meal each day, but that it included “large slices of cold meat,” and that he washed down his foods with “two or three bumpers of good wine.” (1)

He was an overweight male, leading an indulgent life of rich food and alcohol consumption without much exercise, similar to people today who are suffering from the symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes.
What is Gout (Diabetic Neuropathy)?

“Gout is caused when there is too much uric acid in the blood. Uric acid is a waste product in the body and is normally excreted through urine. Buildup of uric acid results in needlelike crystals forming in the joints, soft tissues, and organs.

“The most common sign of gout is a nighttime attack of swelling, tenderness, redness, and sharp pain in your big toe . You can also get gout attacks in your foot, ankle, or knees, or other joints. The attacks can last a few days or many weeks before the pain goes away. Another attack may not happen for months or years.

“8.3 million people in the U.S. have gout. This number is growing because of an aging population, the rise in obesity, increasing numbers of people who also have other conditions such as heart disease, kidney disease, and/or diabetes.” (3)



A new study, reported in the journal Rheumatology, revealed there were 32,741 hospital admissions of gout sufferers in England – a 7.2 per cent annual increase – between 1999 and 2009. “We have shown that hospital admissions for gout are increasing significantly over time,” said Dr Philip Robinson of the University of Queensland, who led the study – one of the world’s largest. “We are seeing this trend in all countries that have reported figures. Why is gout increasing? The prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide due to people taking in too many calories and not exercising.” (4)
Causes of Gout and Diabetic Neuropathy
Vitamin deficiencies in the diet
Exposure to toxins and heavy metals, such as lead, mercury, or pesticides
Type 1 or type 2 diabetes
Moderate alcohol consumption coupled with dehydration 

Treatment and Management
Hydration is the best form of medicine. Being fully hydrated will move the uric crystals out of the body and keep them from building up in the nerve centers.
Drinking dandelion root tea will bring down blood sugar levels which will help the body process food into cell energy instead of creating uric acid crystals as a byproduct of poor energy metabolism in the cell membrane.
Lifestyle changes are important in preventing attacks and managing the condition. Measures include adding raw vegitables to each meal, limiting or eliminating processed foods, and removing alcohol.

Sources
http://www.amphilsoc.org/sites/default/files/proceedings/1520203.pdf
http://www.webmd.com/arthritis/tc/gout-topic-overview
http://umm.edu/health/medical/reports/articles/gout
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/gout-disease-of-kings-is-on-the-way-back-8191044.html
https://lahey.org/Departments_and_Locations/Departments/Rheumatology/Ebsco_Content/Health_Info_-_Gout.aspx?chunkiid=11627
Additional Research

W.S.C. Copeman, A Short History of the Gout and the Rheumatic Diseases (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1964).

G. Cheyne, An Essay of the True Nature and Due Method of Treating the Gout, 6th ed. (London: Strahan, 1824), 72.

W. E. Kittredge and R. Downs, “The Role of Gout in the Formation of Urinary Calculi,” Journal of Urology 67 (1952).

https://thefoodrealityblog.wordpress.com/2015/07/26/benjamin-franklin-the-father-of-diabetic-neuropathy-2/