Evidence is accumulating that chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is more frequent in diabetic patients.21 This should be suspected in diabetic patients with a predominantly motor distal polyneuropathy in whom nerve conduction velocity is markedly slowed and, in particular, if there is evidence of conduction block. Again a secondary autoimmune process may be responsible. A similar association between CIDP and hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy is recognised.As already stated, it is now clear that strict control of glycaemia by an insulin pump or by multiple daily injections of insulin will prevent or even improve neuropathy.5 This treatment, however, is only applicable to patients with type I insulin dependent diabetes and only to a small proportion of them. It is common experience that good glycaemic control can only be achieved in about 25% of patients. Once DSSP is established it fails to improve significantly even with satisfactory glycaemic control.