Neuropathy: mobility and quality of life.

In summary, diabetes is increasingly becoming a disease of elderly people. Some of the under-appreciated complications such as impaired physical functioning, increased risk for falls and fractures need to be more addressed in the future. When evaluating a patient with peripheral neuropathy, it is also important to pay attention to the possibility of deficits in postural stability and lower extremity functioning. Impairments in lower extremity physical functioning are key contributors to loss of physical independence and have a major impact on quality of life. Increasing awareness of disability as a potentially modifiable complication should become a health priority for people with diabetes. Early results of interventions to improve physical functioning are promising and need to be further explored within clinical practice.