Why does tactile acuity diminish substantially on skin regions affected by chronic, poorly-managed type 2 diabetes?

💡 Explanation

Tactile acuity decreases in diabetic neuropathy because advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) accumulate and cross-link collagen fibers within the dermis. This stiffening reduces the deformation of mechanoreceptors needed for fine touch discrimination; therefore, the AGE accumulation decreases acuity, rather than increased receptor sensitivity.

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