--I'm sure Melody will come along soon, but since I'm here at my usual ungodly AM hour . . .

The most typical presentation of diabetic neuropathy is of a length-dependent, "die-back" kind, with burning, lancing pains prominent. But it's not the only presentation; numbness can be almost as common, and the process does not necessarily have to start in the lower extremities.

See:

http://www.neuro.wustl.edu/NEUROMUSC...r/diabetes.htm

It's interesting that you mention the back/neck connection. Many people with neuropathies, diabetics prominently, are prone to what is known as the "double crush" phenomenon: the conditons that are compromising their nerves make them much more prone to additional compressive effects (such as in carpal tunnel, ulnar neuropathy, radiculopathy of spinal nerve roots) than "normal" people would be. In fact, the original condition might not produce noticable or constant neural symptoms without the added "crush" of the compression. Take a look at:

http://www.tifaq.org/articles/double...bert_kane.html

http://www.spinalinjuryfoundation.or...new/double.htm

http://www.emedicine.com/neuro/TOPIC214.HTM