Patients who present with idiopathic neuropathy may in fact be experiencing the first signs of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT or "prediabetes"). In a recent study that compared the association between peripheral neuropathy and prediabetes, findings suggested that electrophysiologic features were similar between patients with diagnosed diabetic neuropathy (DN) and those with prediabetes.

In the research, 67 patients enrolled in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded Impaired Glucose Tolerance Neuropathy (IGTN) Study underwent nerve conductions studies as well as a series of other electrodiagnostic neuropathy testing. These patients were compared to 52 patients with diabetic neuropathy and 42 with diabetes but no neuropathy who are participating in another NIH funded study. The findings showed that the electrophysiologic characteristics were similar between the IGTN and DN patients.