OBJECTIVETo review studies on diabetic bladder dysfunction (DBD), a common and bothersome complication of diabetes mellitus.

DATA SOURCESWe performed a search of the English literature through PubMed. The key words used were "diabetes" and "bladder dysfunction" or "cystopathy". Our own data and perspective are included in the discussion.

STUDY SELECTIONStudies containing data relevant to DBD were selected. Because of the limited length of this article, we also referenced reviews that contain comprehensive amalgamations of relevant literature.

RESULTSThe classic symptoms of DBD are decreased bladder sensation, increased bladder capacity, and impaired bladder emptying with resultant elevated post-void residual urine. However, recent clinical and experimental evidence indicate a strong presence of storage problems such as urge incontinence in diabetes. Recent studies of DBD in animal models of type 1 diabetes have revealed temporal effects of diabetes, causing an early phase of compensatory bladder function and a later phase of decompensated bladder function. The pathophysiology of DBD is multifactorial, including disturbances of the detrusor, urothelium, autonomic nerves, and urethra. Polyuria and hyperglycemia play important but distinctive roles in induction of bladder dysfunction in type 1 diabetes. Polyuria causes significant bladder hypertrophy in the early stage of diabetes, whereas oxidative stress in the bladder caused by chronic hyperglycemia may play an important role in the late stage failure of bladder function.

CONCLUSIONSDBD includes time-dependent and mixed manifestations. The pathological alterations include muscle, nerve, and urothelium. Polyuria and hyperglycemia independently contribute to the pathogenesis of DBD. Treatments for DBD are limited. Future clinical studies on DBD in type 1 and type 2 diabetes should be investigated separately. Animal studies of DBD in type 2 diabetes are needed, from the natural history to mechanisms. Further understanding of the molecular mechanisms of DBD will provide multiple potential targets for therapeutic intervention.