Promising Biomarkers for Early Diagnosis: Advances in Understanding the Pathogenesis of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is one of the most common chronic complications of diabetes mellitus. The most common type is distal symmetric polyneuropathy, and lesions frequently lead to disabling neuropathic pain and even amputation, increasing the risk of death. At present, the pathogenesis of DPN has not been clarified, and its insidious onset and lack of obvious symptoms in most patients in the early stages often lead to delayed diagnosis, which is unfavourable for prevention and treatment. This article provides an overview of the existing research progress on early diagnostic markers of DPN, especially oxidative stress-related markers, neural tissue damage markers, inflammation-related markers, neurovascular damage markers, and gene-related markers, in the hope that it can provide a reference for early diagnosis and treatment of DPN, and slow down the occurrence and development of DPN.