A 60-year-old patient with long-standing type 2 diabetes presents with burning pain and numbness in both feet, worse at night, consistent with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. His HbA1c is 7.5%. Which medication is the most appropriate initial treatment for his neuropathic pain?

✓ Correct Answer: Option B

Gabapentin is a first-line medication specifically indicated for the management of neuropathic pain, including that caused by diabetic neuropathy. Metformin and insulin manage glucose, and lisinopril treats hypertension, none of which directly alleviate neuropathic pain symptoms.