Substantial Clinical Improvement Following Electroacupuncture Combined With Pharmacological Therapy in Refractory Painful Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: A Case Report

Background Painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (PDPN) is one of the most common complications of diabetes mellitus, characterized by stocking-and-glove sensory disturbances that significantly impair patients’ daily function and quality of life. Pharmacological management often fails to provide adequate symptom relief in some patients. Electroacupuncture has emerged as a promising non-pharmacological intervention due to its analgesic, anti-inflammatory, peripheral nerve microcirculation-enhancing, and neurorestorative effects. Case Presentation A 51-year-old woman with PDPN experienced significant impairment in quality of life and clinical function despite standard pharmacological treatment. Due to persistent symptoms, the patient received six sessions of electroacupuncture with intermittent 4 Hz stimulation. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the visual analog scale, Neuropathy Disability Score (NDS), Neuropathy Symptom Score (NSS), and Short Form-36 (SF-36). Results Following electroacupuncture treatment, neuropathic pain, numbness, and paresthesia were substantially reduced, accompanied by improvements in sleep quality, daily functioning, and health-related quality of life. NSS, NDS, and SF-36 scores demonstrated clinically meaningful improvements. No adverse effects were observed during the treatment period. Conclusion Electroacupuncture, in combination with pharmacological therapy, was safe and associated with improvements in neuropathic pain, sensory symptoms, neurological impairment, and quality of life in this patient with refractory PDPN. However, as these findings are based on a single-case report, further studies are needed to establish its efficacy and potential role in PDPN management.