People who’ve had type 1 diabetes for at least five years, and all people with type 2 diabetes, are typically assessed annually for diabetic neuropathies.[1][2] Assessment includes clinical tests exploring a person’s sensations of vibration, thermal changes, and pain.[1][2] But, since diabetic neuropathies are a collection of several conditions with non-specific signs and symptoms, and since nondiabetic neuropathies can also occur in people with diabetes, the diagnosis of diabetic neuropathy is a process of exclusion — i.e., alternative causes of the presenting signs and symptoms are systematically ruled out before a final diagnosis.
How is diabetic neuropathy diagnosed?
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•Last Updated: May 16, 2025
Diabetic neuropathy is diagnosed through annual assessments for people with type 1 diabetes (after 5 years) and all individuals with type 2 diabetes; these assessments involve clinical tests for sensations like vibration, thermal changes, and pain. The diagnosis is a process of exclusion, in which alternative causes for the symptoms are ruled out before confirming diabetic neuropathy.