Nerve Conduction Studies for the Early Detection of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

Abstract Diabetes mellitus (DM) frequently results in diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), which has a substantial morbidity rate. In order to avoid irreparable nerve injury, early diagnosis is crucial. Objective electrophysiological techniques called nerve conduction studies (NCS) can be used to detect asymptomatic DPNs before symptoms manifest. The merits of NCS for clinical evaluations, its influence on patient treatment, and its involvement in early DPN diagnosis are all assessed in this review overview. A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar using Boolean strings such as (“diabetic neuropathy” AND “nerve conduction studies”) OR (“early detection” AND “electrophysiology”). Inclusion criteria: Peer-reviewed studies between 2000 and 2025, English language, human subjects, observational or interventional design. Exclusion: Animal studies, editorials, and non-English works. Prior to the development of clinical symptoms, NCS detects anomalies in the velocity, amplitude, and latency of sensory and motor nerve transmission. The study demonstrates that NCS has a high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing DPN early on, a diagnosis that is being tested clinically and reviewed based on symptoms. NCS is a useful tool for the early detection of DPN. Wider adoption requires standardization of protocols, including limb temperature control, reference values, and inter-laboratory consistency. Cost-effectiveness and accessibility must be balanced for integration into routine diabetes care.