at times, but more importantly, understanding what is going on in your body and how it causes the PN is MORE useful. Knowing the causes, in your case pre-diabetic, you can possibly keep things from getting worse, and maybe even improve it over time....
This site if it connects properly should give you a thorough sketch about it all:
http://neuromuscular.wustl.edu/nother/diabetes.htm
It is seeming as if you have had some of the basic preliminary testing done for PN's, most importantly, blood work to eliminate many of the other issues some of us suffer from/with.
I don't have diabetes but I am sure others here will be able to give you more concrete information about that and pre-diabetes approaches to help you deal with it all.
Key to it tho [I live with a type II] is balancing any medications, diet and exercise to get optimal numbers - which equal optimal POTENTIAL results. It's not all a guarantee tho, by any means.
Other than that? Pain is pain, it's obvious that the medical world can't develop a uniform description for pain in general...let along what our PN pain causes, feels like and all.. We are all here for you! Hugs and good thoughts! - j