What is Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathic Pain (DPNP)?

Nerves allow your body to feel temperature, pain, and other sensations. The nerve damage due to diabetes (diabetic peripheral neuropathy or DPN) is usually seen in the feet and legs and, less often, in the hands and arms and progresses inward from the extremities over time (see figure).  Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathic Pain (DPNP) is a condition where nerve damage due to diabetes can cause painful symptoms.  DPNP typically worsens at night and patients often use terms such as burning, shooting or stabbing to describe their pain. Some patients also complain of “pins and needles,” or tingling.  In addition to these symptoms of pain, patients often complain of coldness or numbness accompanying the pain, or loss of normal “protective” pain sensations.