Objective To study the real-time gait behavioral changes in rat models of experimental diabetic peripheral neuropathy.Methods Twenty-five SPF Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into experimental group (6 males and 7 females) and control group (6 males and 6 females). Diabetes was induced in rats by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) in a dose of 45 mg/kg. The gait behavior in all rats was tested at 12 weeks after diabetes modelling.Results Compared with the control group,the rats with diabetic peripheral neuropathy showed statistically significant different walk cycle extension, walk speed, average print intensity, balance and coordination. The abnormal gait behavior of the rat models was mainly reflected in the increased average and each foot walk cycle extension(P<0.01),average intensity (P<0.05), absolute average body rotation (P<0.01),and shortened both homologous coupling and homolateral coupling(P<0.05).Conclusions Experimental rat models of diabetic peripheral neuropathy can exhibit obvious changes of gait behavior, and may provide a reference for related clinical and basic research.