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Diabetic neuropathies: clinical manifestations and current treatment options

Abstract

Diabetic neuropathies are a heterogeneous group of disorders that include a wide range of abnormalities. They can be focal or diffuse, proximal or distal, affecting both peripheral and autonomic nervous systems, causing morbidity with significant impact on the quality of life of the person with diabetes, and can result in early death. Distal symmetric polyneuropathy, the most common form of diabetic neuropathy, usually involves small and large nerve fibers. Small-nerve-fiber neuropathy often presents with pain but without objective signs or electrophysiologic evidence of nerve damage, and is recognized as a component of the impaired glucose tolerance and metabolic syndromes. The greatest risk resulting from small-fiber neuropathy is foot ulceration and subsequent gangrene and amputation. Large-nerve-fiber neuropathies produce numbness, ataxia and uncoordination, impairing activities of daily living and causing falls and fractures. A careful history and detailed physical examination are essential for the diagnosis. Symptomatic therapy has become available and newer and better treatment modalities, based on etiologic factors, are being explored with potential for significant impact on morbidity and mortality. Preventive strategies and patient education still remain key factors in reducing complication rates and mortality.

Key Points

  • Diabetic neuropathies are among the commonest, long-term complications of diabetes although often are not recognized by physicians

  • A thorough history and detailed physical examination, with the aid of simple tests that can be done in the clinic, are essential for the diagnosis

  • Management of the disease is complex and the key to success depends, in part, on discovering the underlying pathological processes in each particular clinical presentation

  • There has been increasing understanding of the pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathies over the last decades and new therapies are emerging that hold promise for the treatment of this disease

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Figure 1: A simplified view of the peripheral nervous system
Figure 2: Cutaneous nerve fibers that stain positive for the neuronal antigen protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) in metabolic syndrome and diabetes
Figure 3: A diagnostic algorithm for assessment of neurologic deficit and classification of neuropathic syndromes
Figure 4: Pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathies
Figure 5: Different mechanisms of pain and possible treatments
Figure 6: Schematic representation of the generation of pain

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Acknowledgements

Our work is supported by the American Diabetes Association, NIH, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Diabetes Institutes Foundation, the Commonwealth Health Research Board and various industrial companies (Astra Zeneca, Takeda, Pliva, Dainippon, Eli Lilly & Company).

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Correspondence to Aaron Vinik.

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Vinik, A., Ullal, J., Parson, H. et al. Diabetic neuropathies: clinical manifestations and current treatment options. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2, 269–281 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncpendmet0142

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