New Treatments & Clinical Trials for Diabetic Neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy develops when prolonged high blood sugar damages nerves, most often in the feet and legs. It affects roughly half of people with diabetes at some point. Current treatment focuses on blood sugar control and managing pain with medications like gabapentin or duloxetine, but none of these drugs repair damaged nerves.

What's actually going on in research

Trials are testing nerve growth factors, antioxidants to reduce oxidative stress, drugs that improve blood flow to nerves, and new pain medications with fewer side effects. Researchers are also studying how early intensive blood sugar control affects nerve damage over time, and whether certain patterns of nerve injury respond differently to treatment.

What to know before you search

Eligibility typically depends on diabetes type and duration, documented nerve damage on testing, pain severity, current medications, and blood sugar control.

What types of trials are currently open

• Disease-modifying trials — Testing drugs that aim to slow nerve damage progression or promote repair, measured by nerve conduction studies and sensation tests.
• Pain management trials — Testing new medications for neuropathic pain, often comparing them to current options like pregabalin or duloxetine.
• Prevention trials — Studying whether intensive blood sugar control or other interventions can prevent neuropathy in people with diabetes who don't yet have nerve damage.
• Device trials — Testing electrical stimulation devices, compression therapies, or other non-drug approaches for pain or function.
• Natural history studies — Following people with diabetic neuropathy over time to understand how the condition progresses and what factors predict worsening.