| Summary: | Context: There are many methods for the diagnosis and staging of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), but they are usually complicated and comparatively expensive. Aims: The aim of the study is to establish the new methods based on diabetic neuropathy index (DNI) for the diagnosis and staging of DPN and to demonstrate its scientific validity in terms of DPN. Settings and Design: We used the neuropathy symptom score and the neuropathy examination score as standard criteria in our study. The sensitivity and specificity of the diagnostic methods using DNI were compared with standard criteria. Subjects and Methods: The DNI questionnaire asked about the medical history of diabetes, symptoms, peripheral neuropathy-related symptoms, characteristics of neuropathy, and findings associated with differential diseases. These parameters were assessed at positive or negative. We also evaluated some parameters associated with neurological examination, electromyography, and diabetic complications. Statistical Analysis Used: t-test was used to compare the characteristics between different treatments, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to set the cutoff points. Results: The significant parameters for DPN diagnosis were DPN symptoms, tuning fork, Achilles reflex, tactile sensation, duration of diabetes, and reduced visual power. The area under the curve of DNI at ROC was 0.999, which means ROC was significant statistically. The best cutoff point to diagnose DPN was 4 in case of using DNI. Conclusions: Our study suggests that the DNI method is a relatively easier and cost-effective approach in terms of DPN diagnosis and staging because it has high sensitivity and specificity.
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