Diffusion Tensor Imaging of Sural Nerves in Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

Inclusion criteria

• Presence of diabetes mellitus diagnosed for more than 6 months as defined by the World Health Organization Classification.
• Presence of confirmed DPN as defined below.
• Age between 18-70 years.
• Have no risk factors for other non-diabetic neuropathies (as determined by medical history, family history, history of medications, occupational history, history of exposure to toxins, physical and neurological examinations).
• Willingness to provide informed consent and cooperate with the medical procedures for the study.

Inclusion criteria

for Healthy Controls:

• Age-matched non-obese (BMI < 30) control subjects
• Normal glucose tolerance
• Normal blood pressure
• Normal lipid profile
• Free of any causes of neuropathy as described above.

Exclusion criteria

• Nursing mothers or pregnant women (excluded by a positive pregnancy test).
• Patients with a history of previous kidney, pancreas or cardiac transplantation.
• Patients with a past history of neuropathy (independent of diabetes), or with a disease known to be associated with neuropathy (e.g. end stage renal disease, hepatitis C, systemic lupus erythematosus).
• Participation in an experimental medication trial within 3 months of starting the study.
• Subjects with implantable cardioverter defibrillators and other devices that would preclude MRI scanning.
• Subjects who are unable or unwilling to comply with the experimental protocol.