Objective To observe the application effect of magnetic resonance imaging technology in evaluating the brain structure and function of patients with type 2 diabetic painful neuropathy (PDN).

Methods Forty patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus hospitalized in our hospital were selected as the study objects, and were divided into diabetes mellitus (DM) group (n=12), peripheral neuropathy (DPN) group (n=14) and PDN group (n=14). General clinical biochemical indexes of three groups were analyzed. The structural brain and function of brain area in three groups were compared.

Results Age, duration of diabetes, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), free fatty acid (FFA), albumin (ALB), creatinine (Cr), uric acid (UA), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), cystatin C (Cys-C), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) of the three groups were compared, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroglobulin antibody (TGAb), thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO-Ab) and serum calcium (Ca) in the three groups showed no significant differences (P > 0.05). Compared with the DM group, the gray matter volume (GMV) in the DPN group was significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Compared with the DM group, amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (fALFF) of left medial superiorfrontal gyrus in the PDN group were significantly decreased (P < 0.05).

Conclusion Abnormal GMV in the left angular gyrus in DPN patients may be associated with a higher risk of concomitant cognitive impairment. The decrease of ALFF in the right cerebellar vermis and fALFF in the left medial superior frontal gyrus in PDN patients may be related to the pathogenesis of pain.