The epidemiology of diabetic neuropathy

The understanding of the epidemiology of diabetic peripheral neuropathy has been made difficult by methodological issues relating to many of the published studies. Inconsistency in the selection of diagnostic procedures makes it difficult to compare studies. Further problems arise from selection bias. Many studies describe the prevalence in hospital-based populations, which bias toward those who are more severely affected. Diabetic neuropathy appears to affect -30 of the hospital-based population, -20 of community-based samples, and -10 of patients in whom blood glucose testing is used to identify all of those with diabetes. The incidence of diabetic neuropathy is -2 per year. The most important etiological factors that have been associated with neuropathy are poor glycemic control, diabetes duration, and height, with possible roles for hypertension, age, smoking, hypoinsulinemia, and dyslipidemia.