Diabetic Neuropathic Cachexia

Six patients with diabetic neuropathy are reported who conform to a hitherto undescribed syndrome. The two outstanding symptoms, namely profound weight loss and severe pain, led to the admitting diagnosis of metastatic carcinoma or carcinomatous neuropathy in each case. The patients were all males, chiefly in the sixth decade of life, had bilateral symmetrical peripheral neuropathy, severe emotional disturbances, anorexia, impotence, mild diabetes, simultaneous onset of neuropathy and diabetes, absence of other specific diabetic complications and a uniformly spontaneous recovery in about one year. Because of the cachectic appearance, the term ‘diabetic neuropathic cachexia’ is suggested.