Diabetic neuropathy

Patients should be advised to:

• Examine their feet daily

• Wear only proper footwear

• Report any symptoms or signs early, including wounds and foot deformities

• Maintain tight glucose control

• Make sure they know what to do if they experience hypoglycemic episodes

• Keep clinic appointments to check there is tight blood pressure and lipid control.

If pharmacologic intervention is required for painful DN, patients should be advised that although treatment will reduce their pain, it may not eliminate the pain entirely.[66]Price R, Smith D, Franklin G, et al. Oral and topical treatment of painful diabetic polyneuropathy: practice guideline update summary. Report of the AAN Guideline Subcommittee. Neurology. 2022 Jan 4;98(1):31-43. https://n.neurology.org/content/98/1/31 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34965987?tool=bestpractice.com It is important to manage patient expectations in this way to increase likelihood of treatment satisfaction.[66]Price R, Smith D, Franklin G, et al. Oral and topical treatment of painful diabetic polyneuropathy: practice guideline update summary. Report of the AAN Guideline Subcommittee. Neurology. 2022 Jan 4;98(1):31-43. https://n.neurology.org/content/98/1/31 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34965987?tool=bestpractice.com