got my MRI of lumbar and thoracic spine back - of course normal- now waiting for VEP results...anyone know what the test looks like if it is abnormal? just curious thanks!

Interesting thread. I have diabetic neuropathy and balance, gait, tripping issues that I figured was part of the neuropathy. Is it possible to get CMT (or something like it) that explains the balance, gait, tripping issues when diabetes is involved. Just got word yesterday that Dr wants a bone density test because she is concerned about osteoporosis. Tripping and loss of balance and osteoporosis are not good combinations. Not intending on hijacking thread, but just curious if there is a CMT connection or PN connection to balance, gait and tripping issues.

It is always possible.

CMT can co-exist with other conditions.

Diabetics do not all get neuropathy. I've seen quotes that 20% on the low side up to 30% of diabetics get it. The others do not.

There are some studies to show that diabetic neuropathy, as well as the other terrible consequences of diabetes like vision loss, amputation from poor circulation etc, only occur in certain people with a genetic tendency for it.

This new report says up to 50% and that is the highest I have seen yet:

http://www.uptodate.com/contents/epi...tic-neuropathy

This article gives the typical 20% statistic:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetic_neuropathy

CMT is genetic, so the first place to look is your family history. Does anyone else have neuropathy and muscle loss, either early or late onset? The CMT would be a pre-existing, but perhaps unnoticed, condition, and then you developed diabetes unrelated to it. You can, as Mrs. D said, certainly have both.
Were you clumsy and uncoordinated as a child? Accident prone? Do you have high arches?
Testing for it is expensive, can be inconclusive, and there is no treatment, but generally a fairly accurate diagnosis can be obtained based on routine neurological tests, symptoms, and family history.

You can have any other disease as well as having CMT. A CMTer is not immune from having other diseases as well as having CMT.