title: Prediabetic neuropathy: does it exist?
abstract: It is now increasingly being appreciated that a substantial proportion of subjects with prediabetes may exhibit peripheral neuropathy and/or neuropathic pain. The reverse is also true, inasmuch as examining patients with idiopathic peripheral neuropathy will frequently reveal prediabetes. In the general population, the prevalence of neuropathy in prediabetes is intermediate between overt diabetes and subjects with normoglycemia. This prediabetic neuropathy is, generally, milder in comparison to diabetic neuropathy and mainly affects small fibers mediating sensory function. Hyperglycemia, microangiopathy, dyslipidemia and the metabolic syndrome have been implicated as pathogenic mechanisms. In practice, therapy of prediabetic neuropathy should be addressed towards normoglycemia and correction of cardiovascular risk factors. However, additional work is needed to establish the long-term results of this approach.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Clinical Diabetology, German Diabetes Center at the Heinrich Heine University, Leibniz Center for Diabetes Research, Düsseldorf, Germany. papanasnikos@yahoo.gr
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Papanas
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ziegler
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011236:Prediabetic State / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose