The complications associated with diabetes are numerous—and overwhelming. But in the flurry of managing diabetes and its potential comorbidities and symptoms, one is often forgotten: nerve damage and pain.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), sometimes called diabetic nerve pain, is a serious and common complication of diabetes, affecting up to 50% of people living with diabetes. The disease develops when high blood sugar damages the nerves, and it can lead to loss of sensation, numbness, tingling, and pain—most commonly in the feet, but also in the legs, hands, and arms.

When undetected or unmanaged, DPN can lead to unnoticed and unhealed injuries and infections, which increase the risk of amputation and death.

Each November, U.S. Pain Foundation hosts KNOWvember, an educational campaign that provides specific, helpful information on a different pain-related topic. This KNOWvember, U.S. Pain Foundation is exploring the topic of DPN with our #knowDPN campaign.

Follow us throughout the month for educational articles, video updates and an informational webinar, illuminating statistics and facts on social media, an informative guide, personal stories from individuals living with DPN pain, and more.

Keep checking our KNOWvember page, and follow our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages. Be sure to use the #KNOWvember and #knowDPN hashtags when you share on social media!

“Tingling or pain in the feet experienced by those living with diabetes is often overlooked or ignored, but failing to recognize, diagnose, and treat DPN can have severe consequences,” said Nicole Hemmenway, CEO of U.S. Pain Foundation. “This KNOWvember, we are spreading awareness of DPN so that individuals living with diabetes can remain on guard and take better control of their health.”

Looking Ahead This November

As we explore DPN this month, we aim to share information and resources about:

• How DPN develops in individuals with diabetes, and its prevalence

• Diagnostic criteria and the diagnosis process

• Management options and innovative treatments

• DPN research, the hope it offers, and the importance of participation in clinical trials

• How to prevent, detect, and slow the progression of DPN

• Common myths and facts about the disease

• Personal stories from people living with DPN

It’s time to get to #knowDPN. 

Our 2024 KNOWvember campaign is made possible through the generous support of our sponsors, Averitas and Vertex Pharmaceuticals.

The U.S. Pain Foundation independently developed the content without review from its sponsors. This information is for educational purposes only and may not be used as a substitute for advice from a health care professional.

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