Year: 2026 | Month: June | Volume: 16 | Issue: 6 | Pages: 62-73
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20260607
Evaluation of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy by Neuropathy Symptom Score and Neuropathy Disability Score: A Cross-Sectional Study
Sehar Mushtaq Kanyu1, Sunil Sachdev2, Mudasir Mushtaq Shah3*
1Resident, Department of Physiology, GMC Jammu,
2Professor & Head, Department of Physiology, GMC Jammu
3Consultant, Department of Neurology, Narayana Hospital, Bangalore
Corresponding Author: Dr. Mudasir Mushtaq Shah
ABSTRACT
Background: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a common and progressive complication of diabetes mellitus, contributing significantly to morbidity and reduced quality of life. Early identification through simple clinical tools such as the Neuropathy Symptom Score (NSS) and Neuropathy Disability Score (NDS) is essential for timely intervention. The present study aims to assess the prevalence and severity of DPN among diabetic patients using NSS and NDS, and to determine gender-related differences in neuropathic patterns and sensory deficits.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 diabetic patients. NSS was used to evaluate subjective neuropathic symptoms, and NDS to assess objective sensory deficits including vibration, pain, temperature perception, and ankle reflex. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 with p< 0.05 considered statistically significant.
Results: Based on NSS, 40% of participants were asymptomatic (scores 0–2), 28% had mild symptoms (3–4), 18% moderate (5–6), and 14% severe (7–9). According to NDS, 65% had normal scores (0–2), 10% mild deficits (3–5), and 25% moderate deficits (6–8). DPN was present in 29% of participants with 16 males and 13 females. Among these, 86.2% had NDS ≥ 6 (moderate to severe neuropathy), while 13.8% (all females) exhibited NDS 3–5 with NSS ≥ 5, indicating early symptomatic neuropathy. Sensory evaluation revealed vibration loss in 86.2%, pain abnormalities in 68.9%, temperature loss in 51.7%, and ankle reflex impairment in 44.8% of DPN cases.
Conclusion: The combined application of NSS and NDS provides an effective and practical approach for the early detection and grading of DPN. Incorporating these tools into routine diabetes evaluation can aid in identifying high-risk patients, enabling timely preventive and therapeutic strategies.
Key words: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy, Neuropathy Symptom Score, Neuropathy Disability Score, sensory deficit, vibration perception, diabetes mellitus