The frequency of undiagnosed diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance in patients with idiopathic sensory neuropathy

The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of undiagnosed abnormal glucose metabolism in patients with idiopathic sensory neuropathy. Patient s were separated into two groups depending on presence or absence of painfu l symptoms, and an oral glucose tolerance test was performed. Of the 48 pat ients studied, those with painful symptoms had a higher frequency of abnorm al glucose metabolism than literature-based controls, whereas patients with out painful symptoms showed no difference. Comparison of patients with and without painful symptoms had a P-value of 0.02. The results indicate the ne ed to consider undiagnosed abnormal glucose metabolism in patients with idi opathic sensory neuropathy. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.