A Causative Role for Amylin in Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

Three pieces of information lead to the basis for this study: 1. Individuals with Type-2 diabetes commonly develop peripheral neuropathy. 2. Increased production of the hormone amylin occurs in individuals who have Type-2 diabetes. 3. Aggregations of amylin was found in the peripheral vasculature of rats that overexpressed human amylin. The purpose of this study is to determine whether a correlation exists between the amount of amylin present in the upper extremities of human subjects with Type-2 diabetes and the extent to which symptoms of peripheral neuropathy are expressed in those subjects. The investigators will be testing this by initially collecting blood and skin biopsy samples from subjects, followed by measuring patient sensation and pain responses to heat, cold, and pressure in the upper extremities.