Painful diabetic polyneuropathy - diagnostics and treatment possibilities

Painful diabetic polyneuropathy is a serious therapeutic problem of contemporary diabetology. Neuropathic pain associated with complication significantly decreases quality of patients' life. The goal is to achieve and maintain accurate glicemic control in the treatment of diabetes since it has been proved that hyperglycemia is the main cause of diabetic neuropathy. The achievement of accurate glycemic control leads to pain reduction. In the majority of cases the use of analgesics and coanalgesics is essential. There are also drugs that are suggested to act on the "cause". The treatment of polyneuropathy is unfortunately not always effective. The aim of this article is to review diagnostic criteria for diabetic neuropathy and current therapeutic possibilities.