Diabetes is the most common cause of neuropathy in the Western world.  Diabetic neuropathy may occur in both type I and type II diabetes.  A large cross-sectional study of 6487 diabetic patients in the UK found the prevalence of diabetic neuropathy to be 28.5% (Young et al 1993).  However, the prevalence of diabetic neuropathy varies greatly among various series, from a low of less than 5% to a high of 100% (Thomas and Tomlinson 1993).  Differences in prevalence arise partially from differences in age, but primarily from differences in the definition of diabetic neuropathy, and whether this is based on symptoms only, signs and symptoms, nerve conduction abnormalities, or composite definitions. (Click here to download entire article)