Diabetic nerve pain diagnosis

What does diabetic nerve pain feel like?

Diabetic nerve pain most frequently affects^[7] the nerves in your feet, legs, and hands. Some people with nerve damage will feel numbness, tingling, or pain, while others feel no symptoms at all. Nerve damage can also lower your ability to feel pain, heat, and cold. A provider can usually diagnose^[8] diabetic nerve pain by performing a physical exam and carefully reviewing your symptoms and medical history. Your provider will check your:

• Overall muscle strength and tone
• Tendon reflexes
• Sensitivity to touch and vibration

At every visit, your provider should also check your feet for blisters, sores, cracked skin, and joint problems. Based on the American Diabetes Association’s recommendation, everyone with diabetes should have a foot exam at least once a year. Your provider may also perform or order specific tests to help diagnose diabetic nerve pain, such as:

• Filament test: This test involves brushing a soft nylon fiber (monofilament) over different areas of your skin to test your sensitivity to touch.
• Quantitative sensory testing: This noninvasive test uses a computer system to measure how your nerves respond to vibration and changes in temperature. These results are compared to those of multiple “normal” patients and those from the diabetic patient’s unaffected side.
• Nerve conduction studies: This test measures how fast nerves in your arms and legs conduct signals. It can be used to diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Electromyography (EMG): EMGs measure the electrical activity of your muscle tissue.
• Autonomic testing: If you have signs of autonomic neuropathy, special tests can measure how your blood pressure changes while you are in different positions and whether you sweat normally.