The following processes are thought to be involved in the development of<unk> : Microvascular disease Vascular and neural diseases are closely related. Blood vessels depend on normal nerve function, and nerves depend on adequate blood flow. The first pathological change in the small blood vessels is narrowing of the blood vessels. As the disease progresses, neuronal dysfunction correlates closely with the development of blood vessel abnormalities, such as capillary basement membrane thickening and endothelial hyperplasia, which contribute to diminished oxygen tension and hypoxia. Neuronal ischemia is a well-established characteristic of<unk> . Blood vessel opening agents (e.g., ACE inhibitors, α1-antagonists) can lead to substantial improvements in neuronal blood flow, with corresponding improvements in nerve conduction velocities. Thus, small blood vessel dysfunction occurs early in diabetes, parallels the progression of neural dysfunction, and may be sufficient to support the severity of structural, functional, and clinical changes observed in<unk> . Advanced glycated end products Elevated levels of glucose within cells cause a non-enzymatic covalent bonding with proteins, which alters their structure and inhibits their function. Some of these glycated proteins have been implicated in the pathology of<unk>  and other long-term complications of diabetes. Polyol pathway Also called the sorbitol/aldose reductase pathway, the polyol pathway appears to be implicated in<unk>  complications, especially in microvascular damage to the retina, kidney, and nerves.
Diabetic neuropathy
Vasculitic neuropathy
Tropical neuropathy
Proximal diabetic neuropathy
Small fiber peripheral neuropathy
Alcoholic polyneuropathy
Autonomic neuropathy
Peripheral mononeuropathy