Two Decades of Diabetic Neuropathy Research: A Bibliometric and VOSviewer Network Analysis of PubMed Publications

Background and Aims: Diabetic neuropathy (DN) is the most prevalent chronic complication of diabetes mellitus and a major cause of nontraumatic lower-limb amputation. Despite increasing research activity, the structural dynamics, thematic evolution, collaboration patterns, and institutional landscape of DN research remain incompletely characterized. This study aimed to map global DN research using bibliometric and network visualization analyses of PubMed-indexed publications from 2000 to 2025. Methods: A systematic PubMed search using MeSH and free-text terms identified 11,405 eligible publications. Annual publication trends were assessed, and VOSviewer v1.6.20 was used for author co-authorship, keyword co-occurrence, and institutional collaboration analyses. Modularity-based clustering identified major research themes. Results: Annual publications increased from 182 in 2000 to 1,055 in 2025, representing a 5.8-fold increase. Publications from 2021–2025 accounted for 36.6% of the corpus. The author network identified 37 clusters, with Malik, Rayaz A (137 publications; TLS = 738) as the most productive author, followed by Feldman, Eva L (100; TLS = 355) and Tesfaye, Solomon (86; TLS = 325). Keyword analysis identified nine clusters, with experimental/preclinical research dominating. Advanced diagnostics showed the most recent thematic orientation. Institutional analysis identified Denmark, particularly Aalborg and Aarhus universities, as a prominent research hub, whereas LMICs remained underrepresented. Conclusions: DN research has expanded substantially, with increasing emphasis on corneal confocal microscopy, neuroinflammation, and pharmacological pain management. Major gaps include LMIC underrepresentation, inadequate sex-disaggregated research, and limited translation of preclinical findings into disease-modifying therapies.