Living with diabetes can be a challenge all on its own, in addition to the complications that can come with it. Painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (PDPN) is a common type of diabetic neuropathy that occurs in one-fourth of those with Type II Diabetes and is characterized by feelings of pins and needles, prickling, tingling, numbness, or shooting pain, most commonly in the feet.
The American Chronic Pain Association has many PDPN resources for both patients and caregivers. There is a PDPN Conversation Guide, which can help patients communicate with their healthcare provider about the location, specific feelings, and severity of their pain; a guide on PDPN Treatment Goals to help patients rate pain, activity level, quality of life impact, and establish treatment goals moving forward; and a PDPN Caregiver Brochure that describes how to take care of yourself while caring for the person with PDPN,.
All of these resources, along with additional information on PDPN and other chronic pain conditions, can be found on the American Chronic Pain Association’s website: https://www.theacpa.org/painful-diabetic-peripheral-neuropathy-pdpn/.
