Table 1.

Classification of Diabetic Neuropathies

A.

Diffuse neuropathy

Distal Symmetrical Peripheral Neuropathy
  • Primarily small-fiber neuropathy
  • Primarily large-fiber neuropathy
  • Mixed small- and large-fiber neuropathy (most common)
Autonomic
 Cardiovascular
  • Reduced Heart Rate Variability
  • Resting tachycardia
  • Orthostatic hypotension
  • Sudden death (malignant arrhythmia)
 Gastrointestinal
  • Diabetic gastroparesis (gastropathy)
  • Diabetic enteropathy (diarrhea)
  • Colonic hypomotility (constipation)
 Urogenital
  • Diabetic cystopathy (neurogenic bladder)
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Female sexual dysfunction
 Sudomotor dysfunction
  • Distal hypohydrosis/anhidrosis,
  • Gustatory sweating
 Hypoglycemia unawareness
 Abnormal pupillary function
B. Mononeuropathy (mononeuritis multiplex) (atypical forms)
Isolated cranial or peripheral nerve (e.g., Cranial Nerve III, ulnar, median, femoral, peroneal)
Mononeuritis multiplex (if confluent may resemble polyneuropathy)
C. Radiculopathy or polyradiculopathy (atypical forms)
Radiculoplexus neuropathy (a.k.a. lumbosacral polyradiculopathy, proximal motor amyotrophy)
Thoracic radiculopathy
D. Nondiabetic neuropathies common in diabetes
Pressure palsies
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
Radiculoplexus neuropathy
Acute painful small-fiber neuropathies (treatment-induced)

From: Diabetic Neuropathies

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Feingold KR, Anawalt B, Blackman MR, et al., editors.
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