Objective To enhance the awareness of nerve damage in children with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus, in order to make early diagnosis and treatment, and improve the quality of life of sick children. Methods Clinical data of 102 newly diagnosed diabetes patients hospitalized in the pediatric endocrine ward in our hospital from September 2021 to January 2024 were collected. The patients were divided into a diabetic peripheral neuropathy group and a nondiabetic peripheral neuropathy group. The screening for nerve damage and risk factors in children with newly diagnosed diabetes were analyzed. Results Among the 102 newly diagnosed children with diabetes, 46 (45.1%) had diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Among the 46 patients, there were 29 cases (63.0%) of subclinical peripheral neuropathy. Motor nerve damage was more common than sensory nerve damage. Common peroneal nerve was the most frequently involved motor nerve. There were significant differences in initial random blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA?C) between the two groups (P<0.05). Higher blood HbA?C was a risk factor for diabetic peripheral neuropathy (OR=1.220, P=0.041). Conclusions Most children with newly diagnosed diabetes show no obvious abnormalities in peripheral neuropathy symptoms or physical examinations. The onset is relatively insidious. Electroneurogram detection has a high positive rate. Higher blood HbA?C is a risk factor for diabetic peripheral neuropathy.