Painful diabetic neuropathy is an extremely disabling condition that may be present in at least a fifth of diabetic patients [1]. The etiology of painful diabetic neuropathy is complex with peripheral somatic [2,3], autonomic [4] and central thalamic per-fusion defects identified in these patients [5]. The characteristic symptoms include symmetrical paresthesia, dysesthesia, electric shock-like pains and allodynia in the feet with nocturnal exacerbation. The treatment of this condition has remained unsatisfactory with a 'good' response to conventional medication rated at between 30-50% pain relief [6].
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