Diabetes and the Nervous System

Dr. Douglas Zochodne is a Neurologist and Neuroscientist, Director of the Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, and Past Divisional Director of Neurology at the University of Alberta (UofA). Dr. Zochodne’s career has included faculty positions at Queen’s University, Canada, the University of Calgary and more recently the University of Alberta. Dr. Zochodne’s roles have included Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences, and President of the Peripheral Nerve Society. He is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and his book “Our Wired Nerves: The Human Nerve Connectome” was published in 2020. He has devoted his career toward understanding the biology and diseases of the peripheral nervous system. Rayaz A. Malik is a Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College, Qatar and Honorary Professor of Medicine and Consultant Physician in the Centre for Endocrinology and Diabetes, Central Manchester University Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust and University of Manchester. He obtained his BSc., MSc. and MB ChB from the University of Aberdeen and his PhD from the University of Manchester. He is an expert in the pathogenesis, assessment and treatment of diabetic neuropathy and has been a co-editor for three books, co-authored over 30 book chapters and published (~130 peer reviewed papers) and presented (~500 national and international presentations) extensively. His research is funded by the NIH, JDRF, DUK, BHF and EU and his funding totals ~$8M. He was the Chairman of Neurodiab, the international study group of the EASD for Diabetic Neuropathy (2009-2012). He won the young clinical investigator prize for clinical science for Neurodiab in 1999, North West of England Medical Society Prize in 2000; North East Medical Society Prize 2012. He has been an invited lecturer for the American Diabetes Association 2003, 2007 and 2010, 2012, 2013; European Association for the Study of Diabetes 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2013 and World Diabetes Congress 2009, 2011, 2013. He is an associate editor for Diabetic Medicine (2006 to present); BMC Neurology (2009-present); Advances in Therapy (2009-present) and is on the editorial board for Journal of Diabetes and Its Complications (2012-present) and Journal of Diabetes Investigation (2012-present).

Section 1. CLINICAL IMPACT OF DIABETES ON THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
1. Epidemiology of polyneuropathy in diabetes and prediabetes
2. Clinical features of diabetic polyneuropathy
3. Focal and entrapment neuropathies
4. Diabetic radiculoplexus neuropathies
5. Painful diabetic neuropathy: clinical aspects
6. Diabetic autonomic neuropathy
7. Motor neuropathy
8. Diabetic neuropathy and foot ulceration
9. Glucose intolerance and neuropathy
10. Diabetic neuropathy in children
11. Cognitive disorders in diabetic patients
12. Stroke and diabetes mellitus
13. Neurological infections in diabetes mellitus
14. Recognition and management of psychosocial issues in diabetic neuropathy
15. Overview of diabetes management in patients with neurological disorders
16. Sexual dysfunction in diabetes

Section 2. DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES TO DIABETIC NEUROLOGICAL COMPLICATIONS
17. Electrophysiological testing in diabetic neuropathy
18. Diabetic neuropathy and nerve structure
19. Epidermal innervation in diabetes
20. Clinical and diagnostic features of small fibre damage in diabetic polyneuropathy
21. CNS imaging in cerebrovascular and white matter disease
22. Therapy for diabetic neuropathy: an overview
23. Methodology for conduct of epidemiologic surveys and randomized controlled trials of diabetic polyneuropathy

Section 3. FUNDAMENTAL STUDIES OF DIABETIC NEUROSCIENCE
24. Neuroscience of glucose homeostasis
25. Mechanisms of disease 1. Mitochondrial dysfunction in sensory neuropathy and other complications in diabetes
26. Mechanisms of diabetic neuron damage: molecular pathways
27. Mechanisms of diabetic neuropathy 3: Schwann cells
28. Mechanisms of disease: axon dysfunction
29. Mechanisms of disease: role of neurotrophins in diabetes and diabetic neuropathy
30. Experimental motor neuropathy in diabetes
31. Ischemic neuropathy
32. Diabetes and neurodegeneration in the brain
33. Neurological damage in hypoglycemia
34. Painful neuropathy-mechanisms
35. Insights into the pathogenesis and treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy
36. Autonomic neuropathy in experimental models of diabetes mellitus