Understanding Diabetic Neuropathy

Abstract

A tremendous amount of new knowledge about peripheral-nerve function and dysfunction has accumulated over the past 25 years. Advances have come from major technological developments in electrodiagnosis, the morphologic study of nerve, and the application of a wealth of new neurobiologic methods. The pathophysiology of neuropathic symptoms and signs is now reasonably well worked out, even at the single-fiber and membrane level, although the classification of polyneuropathies has become so complex that it is the province of experts.Despite the advances, understanding of the pathogenesis of peripheral neuropathies, particularly the axonal (as opposed to the demyelinating) polyneuropathies, has lagged far . . .