[Clinical presentation and diagnosis of diabetic neuropathy].

Autonomic and sensory nerve dysfunction are progressive forms of diabetic neuropathies, often accompanied by other microvascular complications which are usually characterized by gradual onset of symptoms. Mononeuropathies, radiculopathies, motor palsies and acute painful neuropathies are more reversible forms of neuropathies. Their evolution is often unrelated to glycaemic control, vascular factors are more important in the pathogenesis and these complications are more common in middle aged and elderly men with type 2. diabetes mellitus. The diagnosis of neuropathies is based on following criteria: nerve conduction velocity studies; neurological examination; quantitative motor, sensory and autonomic function tests; neuropathic symptoms. Autonomic functions should be evaluated by standard cardiovascular reflex tests. Recently, reliable, however, simple and cheap methods such as the calibrated tuning fork and the monofilament are recommended to use for the diagnosis of sensory nerve dysfunction in everyday clinical practice.