Painful Diabetic Neuropathy Study

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Are you interested in participating in a painful diabetic neuropathy study?

We are looking for individuals between the ages of 20 -80 who are diagnosed with painful diabetic neuropathy. This study looks at the effects of brain stimulation on pain perception for individuals who suffer from painful diabetic neuropathy.

You will be asked to fill out a series of questionnaires, donate a saliva sample, and receive brain stimulation by Controlled Pulse Parameter Transcranial magnetic stimulation (cTMS) to the motor areas of the brain.

For more information about this study, or to volunteer for this study, please contact:

Jiyeon Park at parkj103@mcmaster.ca

This study has been reviewed by, and received ethics clearance by the Hamilton Integrated Research Ethics Board (HIREB) under project #16481.

More information can be obtained by emailing macpain@mcmaster.ca, or by calling 289-260-6090

Our Research

Our Questions

How can cTMS be use to alleviate pain in painful diabetic neuropathy?

How does the brain react to cTMS to alleviate pain?

Our Purpose

This study will investigate the effects of 10-day cTMS on pain symptoms. It will also look at how the brain reacts to cTMS after 10-days of intervention, exploring a new potential treatment option to manage painful diabetic neuropathy!

Why should you participate?

This study is among the first of it’s kind to study how cTMS can be used to help manage pain.

Your participation can help us further study the effect of cTMS on the brain, to explore it as a potential treatment for diabetic neuropathy!

What Will Participation Look Like?

Your participation in our study can help us explore the potential of using cTMS as a treatment option to alleviate pain in painful diabetic neuropathy!

Your role is simple:

1

2 weeks of
questionnaires

2

Nerve Assessment,
and a Saliva Sample
(pre-intervention)

3

10 sessions of cTMS
over 2 weeks
(30 minutes each)
(Intervention)

4

Nerve Assessments
(post-intervention)

5

2 weeks of
questionnaires

6

Wait 2 Months
(wash out period)

7

Repeat without the
saliva sample!

What is Painful Diabetic Neuropathy?

Painful Diabetic Neuropathy is a condition in which individuals with chronically high blood sugar levels (usually diabetic patients) can lead to damage of nerve endings. Sometimes, this damage can cause pain.

The pain signals from these damaged nerve endings is processed in the brain. We aim to stimulate brain cells using cTMS to see if it can help minimize these pain signals – reducing the pain felt.

What is cTMS?

Controllable Pulse Parameter Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (cTMS) is a non-invasive technique used to stimulate certain brain cells from the outside. The cTMS works by generating a magnetic field through it’s coils, which induces an electric current stimulating certain brain cells.

In this study, cTMS will be used to record how the brain reacts to pain over 2 weeks, and after 2 months!