DIABETIC AMYOTROPHY—A WELL‐DEFINED SYNDROME?

Abstract. Seventeen case reports from diabetics with muscular weakness and wasting of the extremities are reviewed briefly. Symptoms, signs and neurophysiological findings are discussed in the light of earlier reports, including histological studies. The clinical picture in peripheral diabetic neuropathy is variable. Sometimes sensory symptoms dominate and sometimes motor symptoms prevail. However, neuropathological and neurophysiological findings seem to be identical. It is concluded that there is no proof of the existence of a pure motor neuropathy as a well‐defined syndrome in diabetes mellitus as suggested by Garland.