OBJECTIVES: Various medications are commonly used to treat pain among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study examined the drug utilization trends and factors associated with the use of pain medications among patients diagnosed with T2DM.  METHODS: Data from the National Ambulatory Care Survey (NAMCS) 2006-2010 and the outpatient department component of the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) were used to examine diabetes-related ambulatory visits among patients with T2DM. Bivariate chi-square analysis and multiple logistic regression were performed to evaluate the factors associated with prescribing of pain medications (e.g., anticonvulsants, antidepressants, opioids and some topical agents). SAS survey procedures that adjust for the complex sampling procedure of NAMCS and NHAMCS were used.  RESULTS: An average of 50 million (4.63%) visits was made by patients with T2DM from 2006 to 2010. The majority of visits were made by females (54.84%), Whites (69.80%) and individuals aged 45-64 years (47.66%). Among patients with T2DM, 9.70% were prescribed pain management drugs. The most commonly prescribed pain management drugs were anticonvulsants (4.51%), antidepressants (2.80%) and opioids (2.30%). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that females (OR: 1.48; 95% CI: 1.19-1.82), number of physician visits greater than 1 (OR: 1.39; 95% CI: 1.32-1.46), having private insurance (OR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.49-0.90), and endocrinologist visit (OR: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.51-0.89) are significant predictors of pain medication use among T2DM patients. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with T2DM were prescribed anticonvulsants two times more often as compared to opioids for pain management. Dispensed prescriptions for pain medications were related to gender and number of physician visits. More frequent pain management related visits from patients over age 65 was consistent with the literature. Endocrinologist are less likely to prescribe medication for pain management than general medicine specialists.