Primarily, biotin deficiency like other B-vitamin deficiencies, tends to show as a skin rash, as well as fatigue, depression, as well as peripheral neuropathy-like symptoms. Biotin deficiency can affect hair and skin health; such is the rationale for adding biotin to personal care products. This may be more severe in diabetics and alcoholics.

In diabetes, it may actually be that the need for biotin is greater than average. We also know that when diabetic patients are given biotin supplementation, along with the other B-vitamins, blood lipid and sugar profiles can improve.

Cognitive representations of peripheral neuropathy and self-reported foot-care behaviour of people at high risk of diabetes-related foot complications.

AIM:
The aim of this study was to explore the cognitive representations of peripheral neuropathy and self-reported foot-care behaviour in an Australian sample of people with diabetes and peripheral neuropathy.
METHODS:
This cross-sectional study was undertaken with 121 participants with diabetes and peripheral neuropathy. Cognitive representations of peripheral neuropathy were measured by the Patients' Interpretation of Neuropathy questionnaire and two aspects of self-foot-care behaviour were measured using a self-report questionnaire. Hierarchical cluster analysis using the average linkage method was used to identify distinct illness schemata related to peripheral neuropathy.
RESULTS:
Three clusters of participants were identified who exhibited distinct illness schemata related to peripheral neuropathy. One cluster had more misperceptions about the nature of peripheral neuropathy, one cluster was generally realistic about the nature of their condition and the final cluster was uncertain about their condition. The cluster with high misperceptions of their condition undertook more potentially damaging foot-care behaviours than the other clusters (F = 4.98; P < 0.01).
CONCLUSIONS:
People with diabetes and peripheral neuropathy have different illness schemata that may influence health-related behaviour. Education aimed at improving foot-care behaviour and foot-health outcomes should be tailored to specific illness schemata related to peripheral neuropathy.

Vitamin B3, or niacin, is a nutrien

Vitamin B3, or niacin, is a nutrient that, like
all vitamins, is essential to health and life.
Vitamin B3 helps our bodies convert food into
energy, burn fat properly, and is largely
responsible for helping us feel energized! photo
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Nutrition: Vitamin B3  Without vitamin B3, or
niacin, our body is unable to function.  Did you
know that vitamin B3 is a common ingredient in
energy drinks? The reason for this is simple.
Without vitamin B3, or niacin, our body is unable
to function. For many patients, it is lacking due
to poor diet. Consuming a diet high in processed
foods is likely to be low in niacin. Consuming
alcohol can also lower vitamin B3 levels too.  In
the neuropathy clinic, mild deficiencies of
niacin are probably relatively common. Mild
deficiencies probably show up in the neuropathy
clinic as slowed metabolism.  Also very common
are low levels of niacin, causing a decrease in
tolerance to cold. This occurs in neuropathy and
chronic pain patients too!  Niacin deficiency can
cause the disease called pellagra. Pellagra is
disease characterized by the three D’s: diarrhea,
dermatitis, and dementia.