New animal studies at Henry Ford Hospital found that sildenafil, sold under the brand name Viagra, effectively eases diabetic peripheral neuropathy — a painful nerve condition common in diabetes patients.
Lei Wang, M.D., the Henry Ford neuroscientist who led the new research, performed nerve and function tests on mice and found that sildenafil markedly improved sensory function starting at six weeks after treatment.
In order to effectively mimic clinical trials in which diabetes patients have advanced peripheral neuropathy, the researchers used male mice with type II diabetes that were 36 weeks old -- roughly equivalent to middle age in humans.