"Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: Therapeutic Options"

Diabetes poses neurological damages and result in diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). The prevalence of DPN varies from 10-90%. The persistent hyperglycemia, microvascular insufficiency, oxidative and nitrosative stress, defective neurotrophism, and autoimmune nerve destruction are the important factors of DPN. Peripheral nerve conduction velocities (NCV) are considered one of the most sensitive indices of the severity of neuropathy in DPN. Control of hyperglycemia is only the best treatment exists for DPN. Besides glucose lowering therapy, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, opioid analgesics, anti arrhythmics, and NMDA receptor antagonists are commonly used, though all these drugs have adverse actions. Recent researches are focused on the development of neurotrophic factors (NTFs), nitrate sprays and topical capsaicin for the treatment of DPN.