From what little I've heard, there are three known causes of neuropathy -- chemo stands out as the vicious one. Alcohol has to be consumed at abusive levels for extended periods, and pre- or even early diabetes is a long way from inducing nerve damage. If you already have neuropathy, it hardly seems reasonable to blame diabetes you don't even have yet. I believe you could benefit from another opinion regarding the causality. For myself, I am hoping against hope that my future includes knee surgery and a life afterward with joy in it.