Greater small nerve fibre damage in the skin and cornea of type 1 diabetic patients with painful compared to painless diabetic neuropathy

Background and aim Damage to small nociceptive fibres may contribute painful diabetic neuropathy. We aimed compare large nerve fibre measurements together with skin biopsy corneal confocal microscopy in patients type 1 diabetes or painless Methods have assessed the McGill pain questionnaire, neuropathy disability score, vibration perception threshold, warm cold sensation thresholds, electrophysiology, participants (n = 41) 50) control subjects 50). Results The duration of diabetes, body mass index, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), blood pressure lipid profile did not differ between Neuropathy score threshold were higher sural conduction velocity was lower, but amplitude, peroneal amplitude thresholds compared However, intraepidermal density, branch density length significantly lower Conclusions There is evidence more severe neuropathy, particularly damage cornea,