Diabetic neuropathy: an update

Abstract

Diabetic neuropathy is the most common neuropathy in industrialized countries, with a remarkable range of clinical manifestations. The usual pattern is a distal symmetrical sensory polyneuropathy, associated with autonomic disturbances. Less often, diabetes is responsible for a focal or multifocal neuropathy affecting cranial nerves, especially oculomotor nerves, and roots and nerves innervating proximal muscles of the lower limbs. Metabolic abnormalities due to hyperglycaemia, lack of insulin and their consequences and ischaemic phenomena secondary to diabetic microangiopathy account for nerve lesions.