Objective To observe the clinical effect of external acupoint application of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Methods A total of 77 patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy were selected, and were randomly divided into observation group(38 cases) and control group (39 cases). All patients were given routine basic treatment, the control group was additionally given oral administration of mecobalamin, and the observation group was additionally given traditional Chinese medicine acupoint application on the basis of the control group. After 3 months of treatment, fasting blood glucose (FBG), two-hour postprandial blood glucose (2 hPBG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbAlc), Toronto Clinical Scoring System (TCSS) score, nerve conduction velocity, TCM syndrome score, satisfaction with clinical treatment.

Results There were no significant differences in FBG, 2 hPBG and HbAlc between the observation group and the control group (P>0.05). After intervention, the TCSS score, nerve conduction velocity, TCM syndrome efficacy and clinical treatment satisfaction of the observation group were better than those of the control group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion Acupoint application of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy can effectively improve clinical efficacy, decrease TCSS score and improve peripheral nerve conduction velocity, and has higher satisfaction with clinical treatment.