Peripheral nerve concentrations of glucose, fructose, sorbitol and myoinositol in diabetic and non-diabetic patients

Abstract
Glucose, fructose, sorbitol and myoinositol concentrations were measured in biopsies of peripheral nerve obtained at above-knee or below-knee amputation. In diabetic patients nerve glucose (median [range]) (5.09 [1.62–12.82] vs 3.12 [1.81–4.01]) ppp<0.02, μmol/g wet weight) were significantly higher than in non-diabetic patients. No significant difference was found in myoinositol concentration (1.95 [1.00–3.55] vs 2.09 [1.27–5.40] μmol/g wet weight). Concentrations differed markedly from previously reported values in human nerve obtained at post-mortem.