BDNF and diabetic neuropathy: However, many of the most common manifestations of the condition involve chronic neuroinflammation and neuropathic pain, and current evidence indicates the mechanisms underlying those manifestations may include: hyperglycemia and AGEs (diabetic neuropathy), GSK-3 and glial activation and elevated levels of both BDNF and the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNFα, IL-1β and IL-6.