Patent ID: 7914823

Claim:
A method for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy which comprises the step of topically applying to the skin of an area afflicted with diabetic neuropathy, an effective amount of a topical composition which comprises: an amount of a compound that promotes synthesis of nerve growth factor selected from the group consisting of: vitamin D 3 : 1(S), 3(R)-dihydroxy-20(R)-(1-ethoxy-5-ethyl-5-hydroxy-2-heptyn-1-yl)-9, 10-seco-pregna-5(Z), 7(E), 10(19)-triene: pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and mixtures thereof, which is effective when administered topically in the topical composition to promote synthesis of nerve growth factor; an amount of quercetin or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, which is effective when administered topically in the topical composition to inhibit aldose reductase; an effective amount of an antioxidant; and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier suitable for topical application of the composition to treat diabetic neuropathy.