Acute painful diabetic neuropathy precipitated by strict glycaemic control

A case of acute painful diabetic neuropathy that followed the establishment of strict glycaemic control using continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion is described. Sural nerve biopsy shortly after the onset of the acute painful syndrome showed no evidence of active nerve fibre degeneration; instead, the appearances were those of a chronic neuropathy with prominent regenerative activity. The suggestion is made that adequate diabetic control promoted regeneration and that the pain may have been related to the ectopic generation of impulses in regenerating axon sprouts.