Survey: Knowledge gap means diabetic nerve pain goes undiagnosed

NEW YORK and ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The results of a recent s shared by Pfizer and the American Diabetes Association is suggesting that awareness, diagnosis and management of diabetic nerve pain lacks among many people with diabetes. “Community Health Perspectives” found especially significant knowledge gaps among Hispanic and African-American communities that experience symptoms of diabetic nerve pain.  

 

Survey responders had all been diagnosed with diabetes and experienced symptoms of diabetic nerve pain. More than 50% of African-American responders were not diagnosed with diabetic nerve pain, but more than half of the same group said nerve pain in their hands and feet impacted their daily lives more than other diabetes symptoms. Eighty percent of African-Americans and 85% of Hispanic responders that talked to their provider about nerve pain wished they had done so sooner. 

 

“Diabetes-related complications are common and debilitating, and seven out of ten general respondents diagnosed with diabetic nerve pain said that their nerve pain makes them feel like they are not successfully managing their diabetes,” Dr. Jane Chang, the American Diabetes Association’s SVP medical affairs, said. "Community Health Perspectives’ confirms the need for ongoing education to motivate more people living with diabetes and symptoms of diabetic nerve pain to visit their doctor and seek some pain relief.”

 

The survey was released in support of Step On Up, an educational campaign about diabetic nerve pain featuring comedian and actor Cedric the Entertainer.

 

“I got involved with Step On Up because I saw firsthand how the pain impacted my father, who has type 2 diabetes and diabetic nerve pain. Results from this survey show he’s not alone, especially in the African-American community,” he said. “Nearly half of African Americans surveyed had not talked to a health care provider about their nerve pain in the feet and/or hands. I want to encourage people experiencing symptoms of diabetic nerve pain to take action and speak with a doctor about their pain.”