Recent advances in the diagnosis and management of diabetic neuropathy.

Neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes and is characterised by a progressive loss of peripheral nerve fibres. 2 There are a number of manifestations including both monoand polyneuropathies. In the diabetic foot, distal sensory polyneuropathy is seen most commonly. However, motor and autonomic fibres may also be involved and combined neuropathies frequently occur. The development of a neuropathy is linked to poor glycaemic control over many years and it increases in frequency with both age and the duration of diabetes.