Objective: To investigate the effect of red light combined with hot compress on diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Methods: From June 2017 to June 2018, 110 patients with DPN admitted to the Department of Endocrinology, Hangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine were selected in the study.The patients were divided into study group (55 cases) and control group (55 cases) according to the random number table method.All patients were given DPN basic care and treatment, with red light in the control group, and red light combined with hot compress in the study group.The motor nerve conduction velocity (MCV) and the sensory nerve conduction velocity (SCV) of the ulnar nerve, median nerve and common peroneal nerve were compared between the two groups before and after treatment.The total scores of the Toronto clinical scoring system (TCSS) were compared between the two groups before and after treatment.The efficacy of the two groups was compared. Results: Before treatment, there were no statistically significant differences in MCV [(40.45±5.33)m/s vs.(40.14±5.08)m/s, t=0.312, P=0.755; (41.15±5.51)m/s vs.(40.86±5.23)m/s, t=0.283, P=0.778; (42.27±5.84)m/s vs.(41.94±5.75)m/s, t=0.299, P=0.766] and SCV [(39.38±4.82)m/s vs.(39.08±4.60)m/s, t=0.334, P=0.739; (40.13±5.45)m/s vs.(39.86±5.15)m/s, t=0.267, P=0.790; (41.18±5.78)m/s vs.(40.89±5.46)m/s, t=0.278, P=0.782] between the ulnar nerve, median nerve and common peroneal nerve in the two groups.After treatment, the ulnar nerve, median nerve and common peroneal nerve of the two groups were treated.The MCV[(48.77±7.25)m/s vs.(44.62±6.30)m/s, t=3.204, P=0.002; (49.35±7.46)m/s vs.(45.36±6.45)m/s, t=3.001, P=0.003; (49.26±7.13)m/s vs.(46.35±6.22)m/s, t=2.281, P=0.025] and SCV[(47.67±6.52)m/s vs.(43.57±5.61)m/s, t=3.535, P=0.001; (47.77±6.63)m/s vs.(44.31±5.14)m/s, t=3.059, P=0.003; (48.33±7.17)m/s vs.(45.12±6.41)m/s, t=2.475, P=0.015] of the two groups were increased, while which of the study group increased more significantly.Before treatment, there was no statistically significant difference in the total scores of TCSS between the two groups [(10.15±1.23)points vs.(10.45±1.51)points, t=1.142, P=0.256]. After treatment, the total scores of TCSS decreased in the two groups, while which of the study group decreased more significantly[(7.22±0.85)points vs.(8.15±0.96)points, t=5.379, P=0.000]. After treatment, the effective rate of the study group was 87.27%, which of the control group was 63.64%, the difference was statistically significant(χ²=8.295, P=0.004). Conclusion The combination of red light and hot compress on DPN has a more prominent clinical effect, which is worthy of wide application.