Diabetic cystopathy: do we recognise this in our patients?

A 44-year-old South Asian woman, with type 2 diabetes requiring insulin, presented with multiple syncopal episodes. Her diabetes was complicated by peripheral neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy. She also had features of autonomic neuropathy. Short synacthen test ruled out adrenal insufficiency; thyroid function was normal. HbA1c was elevated at 14.6% (136mmol/mol). Abdominal computed tomography showed grossly dilated bladder (9.5cm x 14cm x 17.5cm), compressing the mid-ureter. The size suggested an on-going chronic process, consistent with diabetic cystopathy. An indwelling urethral catheter relieved the bladder distension and the patient was later successfully educated to void the bladder by the clock rather than bladder sensation. Euglycaemia was achieved with twice-daily pre-mixed analogue insulin. Diabetic cystopathy is an under-diagnosed complication of diabetes. Most contemporary investigators believe that the aetiology is multifactorial, including disturbances of the bladder detrusor muscle, urethra, autonomic nerves and perhaps the urothelium. This most troublesome of all the genitourinary complications of diabetes is often overlooked. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons.