Neuropathic Pain and Type II Diabetic Patients

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a common metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from insufficiency, deficiency or absence of the insulin hormone. Chronic hyperglycemia, secondary metabolic and microvascular changes resulting in diabetic neuropathy are among the most common complications encountered in DM patients.

Diabetic neuropathy is called peripheral, autonomic or spinal depending on the region of involvement. Peripheral involvement is more common than other region involvement and its prevalence in DM patients is observed to be 16-87%. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) presents with numbness, tingling, paresthesia, muscle weakness and pain. These symptoms can start from the toes and progress to the leg and even the upper extremities.

In diabetic peripheral neuropathy, pain is seen as burning, electric shock or sharp cold pain, increases at night and affects sleep quality. In these patients, daily living activities such as walking, climbing stairs, and sleeping are negatively affected by progressive DPN and pain, falls are observed, mood disorders are experienced, and the quality of life decreases.

In the study, the Data Descriptive Characteristics Form, Diabetes Quality of Life Scale, Self-Care Efficacy Scale, Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs Self-Assessment Scale and Visual Analog Scale will be used. Data will be collected using face-to-face interview technique with patients who apply to the Internal Medicine Outpatient Clinic and are diagnosed with Type II Diabetes. The researchers will conduct the data collection process between 09:00-16:00 on weekdays. After the patients are informed about the research, their informed consent will be obtained and they will be included in the study.

The Descriptive Characteristics Form was developed by the researchers by reviewing the relevant literature. It consists of 17 questions including information such as age, gender, chronic diseases, and medications used.

The original version of the Diabetes Quality of Life Scale, Diabetes Quality of Life (DQOL) scale was developed in 1988 by the Diabetes Control and Complications Study group.The Turkish culturally compatible version of the DQOL scale consists of four sub-dimensions and a total of 45 questions. The Cronbach α coefficient of the Turkish version of the DQOL scale translated by Yıldırım is 0.89.

Self-Care Agency Scale: The Self-Care Agency Scale was developed in 1979 and was adapted to Turkish in the Republic of Turkey and its validity and reliability were performed. The scale, which focuses on individuals' self-assessment of their involvement in self-care actions, consists of 35 items. The Cronbach Alpha Internal Consistency Coefficient of the scale was found to be 0.89.

VAS-Visual Analog Scale It is a scale divided into equal distances on a 10 cm horizontal plane with no pain on one side and "unbearable" pain on the other side. The patient is asked to mark the point on this line that best expresses the intensity of his/her pain. This distance, measured in millimeters, is interpreted as a "score". For pain intensity, 0 points are evaluated as "no pain" and 10 points as "the worst unbearable pain".

S-LANSS It is used especially in the evaluation of pain types with neuropathic characteristics. - It can be applied easily and quickly at the bedside. It provides the distinction between neuropathic and nociceptive pain. There are 7 items in total, 5 of which are pain questions and 2 of which are allodynia and needle prick test examinations. 0 Its validity and reliability in our country was conducted by Koç in 2008. The Cronbach alpha value of the scale was calculated as 0.74

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* 18 years and older,
* Diagnosed with type II diabetes,
* Reading and writing,
* No physical or psychological communication barriers,
* Can read and speak Turkish,
* Volunteers

Exclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosed with type I diabetes