Challenges with Diabetes Complications
Neuropathy
Daniel Bessesen, MD
Professor of Medicine
University of Colorado, School of Medicine
Chief or Endocrinology, Denver Health Medical Center
[email protected]
Why Should we Care About
Neuropathy?
• Decreased functional capacity and quality of
life
• Risk for injury leading to ulceration amputation
• Increased direct and indirect health care costs
• Autonomic neuropathy
• Falls
• Erratic glucose control
• Quality of life
Diabetes Care 36:3131–3138, 2013
http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/statistics/lealevel/fig8.htm
Topics
• Types of neuropathy
• Screening and diagnosing
• Role of glucose control and other
factors
• Treatment
Types of Neuropathy
• Distal Symmetric Polyneuropathy (DPN)
• Diabetic Autonomic Neuropathy:
Cardiac, GI, GU,
• Mononeuritis
• Lumbosacaral radiculoplexopathy:
Diabetic Amyotrophy
Semin Neurol 2012;32:196–203.
Diagnosing Diabetic Neuropathy
• Physical exam: touch, vibration, muscle mass,
reflexes, pulse, orthostatics,
• Monofilament: 10 g
• Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument and
others
• New methods
– MR imaging
– Skin biopsy
– Corneal confocal microscopy
– Sudoscan (electrochemical skin conductance)
10 Gram Monofilament
Diabetes 62:3677–3686, 2013
MR T2 findings
of Diabetic
Neuropathy
With nerve death,
there is increased
T2 signal in nerve.
May be useful in
differentiating from
compressive
neuropathy.
AJR 2012; 199:407–412
Intra-Epidermal Nerve Fiber
Density
Normal Pre-Diabetes
Diabetes Care 29:1294–1299, 2006
Corneal Confocal Microscopy
Diabetes 2014;63:2454–2463
Factors Associated with
Neuropathy: Eurodiab Study
Current Diabetes Reports 2009, 9:432–434
Treatments Based on Mechanisms:
(Not Much Here)
Diabetes Care 2005 28, 956–962
Glucose Control and Neuropathy in
Type 1 Diabetes
1441 pts initially
randomized. 23
years later EDIC
trial, 30% risk
reduction from prior
intensive treatment
The DCCT, NEJM 1993; 329: 977-86, Diabetes Care 2014;37:31–38
Glucose Control and Progression of
Neuropathy: Type 2 Diabetes
VA Cooperative Trial
J Diab and its Complications 13; 5/6: 307–313, 1999
Glucose Control and Progression of
Neuropathy: Type 2 Diabetes
Accord Trial: 10,251 patients randomized to intensive control
(<6%) vs standard care (7-7.9%)
Lancet 2010; 376: 419–30
Treatment of Neuropathic Pain
• Anticonvulsants: Pregabalin, Gabapentin,
Valproate, Carbamazepine,Topiramate,
• Tricyclics: Amitriptyline, Imipramine
• SSRIs: Duloxetine, Paroxetine, Venlafaxine,
Citalopram
• Topical analgesics: Capsaicin, Mexiletine,
Lidocaine
• Analgesic Opiates: Tramadol, Oxycodone
• OTC medications: -lipoic acid, carnitine
Treatment of Neuropathic Pain:
Do the Studies Help?
• Heterogenous study designs
– Different patient groups
– Different approaches to measuring pain and
relief
• Almost no head-to head comparisons
• Commercial interest, publication bias
• New versus old medications
Treatment of Neuropathic Pain
J Fam Pract. 2012 Nov;61(11):691-3: Summary of Cochrane Reviews
Treatment of
Neuropathic
Pain: meta analysis
Pain Practice 14(2),
2014 167–184
Treatment of
Neuropathic
Pain: ADA
Other Causes: Compressive
neuropathy, B12 Deficiency,
Diabetes Care. 2005
Apr;28(4):956-62
Treatment of Neuropathic Pain: AAN
Neurology 2011;76;1758-1765: American Academy of Neurology
Treatment of Neuropathic Pain
BMJ 2014;348:g1799
Summary
• Neuropathy is a common complication
of diabetes that causes substantial
disability.
• Be aware of and rule out other causes
• The number of treatment options is
increasing but the approach to
treatment remains unstatisfactory
