Individuals with type 1 diabetes who exhibit signs of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) face a markedly higher risk of stroke. These findings were presented using data from the Finnish Diabetic Nephropathy (FinnDiane) at the Study at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) 2025 conference.

The study consisted of 3,005 adults with type 1 diabetes, all free of stroke at baseline. DPN was assessed using the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument Questionnaire (MNSI-Q). Scores ≥4 and ≥7 points were evaluated separately. Stroke events were tracked over a median follow-up of 9.8 years using national registries and medical records.

During follow-up, 123 participants (4.1%) experienced a stroke. Individuals who suffered a stroke had higher MNSI-Q scores, were older, and had a longer duration of diabetes. They also had a higher prevalence of kidney failure, cardiovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. After adjusting for traditional risk factors and other diabetic complications, DPN remained a strong independent predictor of stroke, with hazard ratios ranging from 1.82–5.05 depending on the MNSI-Q cutoff.

These findings indicate that screening for DPN using MNSI-Q could enhance risk stratification and guide preventive strategies for stroke in people with type 1 diabetes.