Diagnosing peripheral neuropathy in South ‐East Asia: A focus on diabetic neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy has a major impact on morbidity and mortality. However, the diagnosis and management of diabetic neuropathy is South ‐East Asia is limited. Clear guidance is required to diagnose and manage patients with diabetic and other neuropathies. AbstractBurning and stabbing pain in the feet and lower limbs can have a significant impact on the activities of daily living, including walking, climbing stairs and sleeping. Peripheral neuropathy in particular is often misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed because of a lack of awareness amongst both patients and physicians. Furthermore, crude screening tools, such as the 10 ‐g monofilament, only detect advanced neuropathy and a normal test will lead to false reassurance of those with small fiber mediated painful neuropathy. The underestimation of peripheral neuropathy is highly prevalent in the South‐East Asia region due to a lack of consensus guidance on routine s creening and diagnostic pathways. Although neuropathy as a result of diabetes is the most common cause in the region, other causes due to infections (human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B or C virus), chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, drug‐induced neuropathy (cancer chemother apy, antiretrovirals and antituberculous drugs) and vitamin deficiencies (vitamin B1, B6, B12, D) should be actively excluded.
Source: Journal of Diabetes Investigation - Category: Endocrinology Authors: Tags: Review Article Source Type: research