Diabetic Neuropathy: Promises and Disappointments from Benchside to Bedside

Diabetic neuropathy is the most common complication of diabetes and according to World Health Organization (WHO) almost 50% of diabetes affected patients have same degree of neuropathy [1]. In terms of health care costs, diabetic peripheral neuropathy has a high post-diagnosis economic impact being associated with a 20% increase in the number of patients visiting hospitals and a 46% increase in the number of visits to hospitals compared to the pre-diagnosis situation [2]. As diabetic neuropathy predisposes to the diabetic foot disease, it should be also considered as one of the major causes determining the lower limb amputation. In fact, diabetic neuropathy increases by 7-fold the risk of foot ulceration [3]. Diabetic neuropathy is associated with nerve damage and should be considered as an important factor contributing to disability, sexual dysfunction, urinary tract infections, digestive problems, social isolation, and depression [4]. Last by not least, diabetes increases by 2-4 fold the risk of stroke [5]. Therefore, social costs imply beside the effective health care costs for diabetes treatment, an additional budget for the social security disability, impotence treatment, depression treatment etc. Considering the variety of aspects, from health to economical ones, it is imperative to find new solutions (e.g. molecules/ markers) for early diagnosis of diabetes/ diabetic neuropathy and a concerted effort of the public and private funding should be focused to the benchside.