Neuropathic pain is a current reality for up to 25% of the 20
million Americans with diabetes. However, of all those with
diabetes, approximately half will eventually develop diabetic
neuropathy. Diabetic neuropathy is an extremely common
complication of diabetes and results in pain and numbness that
can affect the individual’s sleep, function, sense of well being
and overall quality of life. The pain is often accompanied by
unpleasant sensations such as tingling and burning. The pain may
range from sharp stabbing pain to a consistent dull ache.
Neuropathic pain was previously called “non-inflammatory” pain,
because it was thought to be the one (and only) type of pain not
consistently associated with inflammation. Neuropathic pain is
no longer referred to as “non-inflammatory” because there is now
overwhelming evidence that inflammation is either the cause of
neuropathic pain or a significant contributor to neuropathic
pain. Granted, the inflammation of neuropathic pain is not
fulminant inflammation, as might