J R Coll Physicians Edinb 2020; 50: 269–73 | doi: 10.4997/JRCPE.2020.310 TOPICAL REVIEW Diabetic autonomic neuropathy: a clinical update Jugal Kishor Sharma1, Anshu Rohatgi2, Dinesh Sharma3 ClinicalDiabetic autonomic neuropathy is an under-recognised complication of Correspondence to: diabetes and the prediabetic state. A wide range of manifestations can be Jugal Kishor Sharma Abstract seen due to involvement of cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, Medical Director sudomotor and neuroendocrine systems. Cardiac autonomic neuropathy is Central Delhi Diabetes the most dreaded complication carrying signi cant mortality and morbidity. Centre Early detection and control of diabetes and other cardiovascular risk factors 34/34, Old Rajinder Nagar is the key to treat and prevent progression of autonomic neuropathy. Recently, a new entity New Delhi 110060 of treatment-induced neuropathy (TIND) of diabetes mellitus causing autonomic neuropathy India is being increasingly recognised. Email: Keywords: diabetic autonomic neuropathy, cardiac autonomic neuropathy, treatment-
[email protected] induced neuropathy Financial and Competing Interests: No confl ict of interests declared Introduction protein kinase C (PKC) activation and advanced glycation end- products (AGEs) formation. Hyperglycaemia and vascular risk The incidence and prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) is factors activate these noxious pathways which cause injury to increasing all over the world, with an estimated 425 million microvascular endothelium, nerve support cells and axons.6 people suffering from DM.1 Peripheral neuropathy and Recently, however, the focus has been on dyslipidemia and autonomic neuropathy are complications of uncontrolled elevated triacylglycerols as a source of non-esterifi ed fatty acid DM. Dysautonomia can manifest as generalised autonomic (NEFA) in type 2 DM.