A total of 40 patients will be recruited for the study. Half will be randomised to taking the food supplement L-arginine and half to placebo. At baseline all patient will have a clinical assessment of their neuropathy status in the lower limb, blood pressure and BMI. Fasting bloods for glucose, lipids profile, U&E's, FBC, CRP, cell adhesion molecules and nitric oxide will be done at baseline and three months later at the end of the study. The TcPO2 and micro-circulation will be assessed at baseline and also at three month.