 Painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy DPN, a condition characterized by pain affecting the feet, legs and hands that is often characterized as burning or a pins and needles sensation, is estimated to affect up to 66 of the U.S. diabetic population. This pilot study will examine the effect of a daily dose of ascorbic acid, a known aldose reductase inhibitor, versus placebo, and the effect that it can have on intracellular erythrocyte red blood cell sorbitol levels, aldose reductase activity and aldose reductase enzyme levels utilizing benchtop methods, and effects on clinical DPN-associated pain reporting and changes in quantitative sensory testing in the lower extremities via touch discrimination and vibratory sensory testing in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus T2DM over the course of 90 days of treatment. 