Pathogenesis of painful diabetic neuropathy

Abstract

The prevalence of diabetes is rising globally and, as a result, its associated complications are also rising. Painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) is a well-known complication of diabetes and the most common cause of all neuropathic pain. About one-third of all diabetes patients suffer from PDN. It has a huge effect on a person's daily life, both physically and mentally. Despite huge advances in diabetes and neurology, the exact mechanism of pain causation in PDN is still not clear. The origin of pain could be in the peripheral nerves of the central nervous system. In this review, we discuss various possible mechanisms of the pathogenesis of pain in PDN. We discuss the role of hyperglycaemia in altering the physiology of peripheral nerves. We also describe central mechanisms of pain.

Figure 1

Arteriolar attenuation (A), tortuosity (B), arteriovenous shunting (C), and proliferation of newly formed vessels (D) of the vasa nervosum seen in the sural nerve of a patient with insulin neuritis (photo courtesy of Tesfaye).