Results from a new survey of more than 600 physicians who treat diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain, or diabetic nerve pain, reveal that nearly all (97 percent) believe that the condition is often misdiagnosed.
Overall, findings from the survey, sponsored by the National Pain Foundation (NPF) and Eli Lilly and Company, suggest that more effective communication is needed to ensure proper care for diabetic nerve pain.
Additional survey findings show that:
- Most physicians surveyed (66 percent) reported that one of the most commonly cited reasons leading to misdiagnosis is lack of information from their patients
- Nearly two-thirds of physicians (62 percent) believe that tools or guidelines that diabetes patients can use to track diabetic nerve pain would be useful in better diagnosing diabetic nerve pain
- The vast majority of physicians (81 percent) want to find new ways to discuss diabetic nerve pain with their patients
To achieve these goals, the NPF and Lilly are launching a new educational program called Talk Beyond Pain: Understanding Diabetic Nerve Pain. This pro- gram will provide patients who might be suffering from diabetic nerve pain with the information and vocabulary they need to better communicate with their physicians what they are feeling and experiencing. The materials are avail- able for download at www.TalkBeyondPain.com.
Diabetic nerve pain includes painful symptoms, such as burning, stabbing or shooting pain in the feet and legs or hands and arms. The symptoms can make everyday activities like driving and walking challenging, and can cause feelings of frustration, sadness or fatigue. (ii, iii)
"Unfortunately, there is no single test that can definitively diagnose diabetic nerve pain. Without a comprehensive understanding of what patients are feeling and experiencing, including the painful physical symptoms and their impact on daily living, it can be easy to misdiagnose diabetic nerve pain and prescribe inappropriate or inadequate treatment," explained Dr. Albert Ray, chairman of the board of the National Pain Foundation and medical director of Pain Medicine Solutions in Miami. "The survey findings suggest that these conversations may not be taking place or not occurring frequently enough, and more guidance for achieving better care can make a huge impact on quality of life."
Talk Beyond Pain: Understanding Diabetic Nerve Pain offers education and tools to help patients who believe they may have diabetic nerve pain initiate conversations with their doctors. The following materials are available:
- Talk Beyond Pain: Understanding Diabetic Nerve Pain Educational Guide: This guide details the symptoms of diabetic nerve pain, how they may impact everyday life, as well as ways to manage the nerve pain. It also includes worksheets and checklists to help people organize their thinking prior to a doctor visit so they can have productive conversations and provide healthcare providers with the information necessary for appropriate diagnosis.
- Talk Beyond Pain: Understanding Diabetic Nerve Pain Personal Diary: This diary helps patients in pain track their symptoms over several weeks, as well as their overall well-being in connection with their pain. There is also a section in the diary dedicated to tracking progress to ensure people are getting relief from their symptoms with their current treatment plan.
"We hope that Talk Beyond Pain: Understanding Diabetic Nerve Pain will help to bridge the communication gap between people living with diabetic nerve pain and their physicians, so they can get help and enjoy life again," said Dr. Ray.