Abstract
Distal symmetrical diabetic polyneuropathy is a most frequent type of diabetic neuropathy in clinical practice. Prevalence of diabetic neuropathy fluctuates in diabetes mellitus type 1 from 22.7 % to 54 % and in diabetes mellitus type 2 from 32.1 % to 45 %.
There is now strong evidence, that main risk factors for development and progression of diabetic peripheral neuropathy are age, duration of diabetes mellitus and traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Severity of diabetic neuropathy is evaluated by different composite scales and scores.
The diagnosis of diabetic neuropathy is a diagnosis "per exclusionem"and is necessary to exclude other causes of peripheral neuropathy. Distal symmetrical diabetic neuropathy is an important risk factor for the diabetic neuropathic foot and painful diabetic neuropathy.
There is no effective cure and good glucose control is important to prevent progression of diabetic neuropathy.