Your patient is a 65-year-old man with type 2 diabetes of 15 years’ duration. His diabetes is fairly well controlled, and his last hemoglobin A1c level was 6.9%. He is reporting a burning sensation in both feet.
A physical examination reveals that his feet are sensitive to the touch, and he has difficulty differentiating hot from cold water. The symptoms are worse at night, he reports. He also notes that his gait is unsteady.
Which one of the following statements is correct?