Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: Evaluation and Management

Diabetes is a leading cause of peripheral neuropathy. Fifty percent of patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) will have pain. All patients with diabetes should be screened annually for neuropathy by performing a neuropathy-specific history and physical examination. The Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument can easily be used to screen patients in the primary care setting. Tight glycemic control is the most important intervention for the treatment of DPN. For the patient with painful DPN, tricyclic antidepressants are considered the first line of treatment. Many patients may require a combination of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions.