Neuropathic Pain and Type II Diabetic Patients

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a common metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from insufficiency, deficiency or absence of the insulin hormone. Chronic hyperglycemia, secondary metabolic and microvascular changes resulting in diabetic neuropathy are among the most common complications encountered in DM patients.

Diabetic neuropathy is called peripheral, autonomic or spinal depending on the region of involvement. Peripheral involvement is more common than other region involvement and its prevalence in DM patients is observed to be 16-87%. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) presents with numbness, tingling, paresthesia, muscle weakness and pain. These symptoms can start from the toes and progress to the leg and even the upper extremities.

In diabetic peripheral neuropathy, pain is seen as burning, electric shock or sharp cold pain, increases at night and affects sleep quality. In these patients, daily living activities such as walking, climbing stairs, and sleeping are negatively affected by progressive DPN and pain, falls are observed, mood disorders are experienced, and the quality of life decreases.