Deterministic nonlinear features of cutaneous perfusion are lost in diabetic subjects with neuropathy

► Laser Doppler studies were performed in normal and diabetic subjects. ► Nonlinear analysis confirmed the deterministic nature of cutaneous perfusion. ►Diabetic neuropathy reduced the deterministic content of perfusion fluctuations. ► Results were validated against surrogate data generated by phase randomization. ► Nonlinear techniques appear to be more sensitive than spectral analysis.