In the early stage of diabetes mellitus in rare instances acute neuropathy is found. The authors demonstrate a patient where thoracoabdominal neuropathy in segments Th 7–9 on the left was found with a suspect diabetic etiology, based on an EMG finding suggesting an axonal lesion, one year prior to unequivocal signs of diabetes

        Key words: diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, thoracoabdominal radiculoneuropathy