In preparation for its KNOWvember campaign—a monthlong educational and awareness campaign held in November that in 2024 will focus on diabetic peripheral neuropathy—the U.S. Pain Foundation is calling on pain warriors to help shine a light on the reality of living with diabetic nerve pain through quick, simple videos.

Between now and Friday, October 18, U.S. Pain is collecting brief videos (three minutes or less) from individuals living with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, DPN, or diabetic nerve pain that provide a window into their individual experiences.

“Sharing our stories is one of the most powerful tools we have as people living with chronic pain,” says Nicole Hemmenway, CEO of the U.S. Pain Foundation. “This is especially important for people living with DPN or diabetic nerve pain, as it is still all too common to overlook the connection between diabetes and pain.”

Sharing personal stories about living with pain can have a major impact in a variety of ways:

• It empowers loved ones to understand and support pain warriors as they deserve to be supported.
• It better informs providers so they can guide individuals with pain to the right treatments for our needs and goals.
• It opens the eyes of policymakers to understand what pain is like and to encourage them to create positive legislative change.
• Perhaps most importantly, the more pain warriors share their stories, the more they realize they’re not alone — and that even though they have chronic pain, their story has not ended.

“We know how difficult it can be to take the vulnerable step of sharing your story and telling others about your pain—but we also know how empowering this process can be,” Hemmenway says. “We are so grateful and inspired by those who take the time to create a greater understanding of DPN by submitting a video and vocalizing their experiences.”

For full video requirements and instructions, click here. 

To submit a video, click here.