Recent advances in the pharmacological management of painful diabetic neuropathy : a South African perspective and comment : editorial

Painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) is an under-diagnosed and under-treated condition and it is appropriate that this journal has reprinted Tesfaye and Selvarajah's article on the treatment of PDN. The prevalence of diabetes in South Africa, currently estimated at 3.9 to 9%, will probably double in the next 20 years. The country is passing through an economic and health transition, which is resulting in a population more at risk for diabetes, i.e. older and more overweight. As the prevalence of diabetes increases, so will the prevalence of PDN.