Assessment of peripheral neuropathy in the diabetic foot

Peripheral neuropathy is associated with major morbidity in the diabetic population. The detection of whether peripheral neuropathy is simply present or not in patients with diabetes is insufficient. What is required is a reliable measure of both the extent and severity of neuropathy, as this enables the appropriate allocation of resources and improves the quality of care for the patients who need it most. Standardized approaches involving the use of a neurothesiometer and a 10 g monofilament can provide a reliable and objective measure of the extent and severity of neuropathy, and should therefore be adopted into protocols for best practice in the assessment of neuropathy.