Heikki Savolainen, Dept. of Occupational Safety and Health, Tampere, Finland
27 November 2008
Diabetic neuropathy affects more than a third of insulin-dependent diabetics. In the peripheral nerves, it is characterized by demyelination and secondary axonal degeneration (1). It is thought that these changes are related to the excessive glucose concentration.
However, also glucose metabolites, e.g. methylglyoxal, are toxic. They may initiate the formation of the so-called RAGE compounds. An idea of the methylglyoxal concentration can be had e.g. by urinalysis for D-lactate, its end metabolite (2).
1 Palo J, Savolainen H, Haltia M. Proteins of peripheral nerve myelin in diabetic neuropathy. J Neurol Sci 1972; 16: 193-9.
2 Talasniemi JP, Pennanen S, Savolainen H, et al. Assay of D-lactate in diabetic plasma and urine. Clin Biochem 2008; 41: 1099-1103.
Critical Care
Diabetic complications
27 November 2008
Diabetic neuropathy affects more than a third of insulin-dependent diabetics. In the peripheral nerves, it is characterized by demyelination and secondary axonal degeneration (1). It is thought that these changes are related to the excessive glucose concentration.
However, also glucose metabolites, e.g. methylglyoxal, are toxic. They may initiate the formation of the so-called RAGE compounds. An idea of the methylglyoxal concentration can be had e.g. by urinalysis for D-lactate, its end metabolite (2).
1 Palo J, Savolainen H, Haltia M. Proteins of peripheral nerve myelin in diabetic neuropathy. J Neurol Sci 1972; 16: 193-9.
2 Talasniemi JP, Pennanen S, Savolainen H, et al. Assay of D-lactate in diabetic plasma and urine. Clin Biochem 2008; 41: 1099-1103.
Competing interests
None