A Novel Diagnostic Test for End-Stage Sensory Failure Associated With Diabetic Foot Ulceration: Proof-of-Principle Study

Diabetic foot ulceration (DFU) affects only a subgroup of patients with diabetic neuropathy, that is, those with pain-insensitivity due to end-stage sensory failure. Pain perception failure develops insidiously and remains asymptomatic until first DFU. As loss of pain perception is clinically significant, timely detection is mandatory.A novel suprathreshold pinprick pain stimulus of 512 mN force made from optical glass-fiber was explored in a...