Relationship between sweat function determined by the sudoscan and parameters of the metabolic syndrome in people with type 2 diabetes

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the sweat function and parameters of the metabolic syndrome in type 2 diabetes patients. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, which took place from July 2016 to December 2016. It was carried out on type 2 diabetes patients who were under treatment. The sweat function, levels of glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol were determined, as the parameters of the metabolic syndrome. Univariate and multivariate analyzes were used to determine the relationship between these parameters and the neuropathy score determined by the sudoscan. Results: Of the 244 patients, aged 32 to 88 years, the average conductance of hands was 59.0±0.8 mS and that of the feet 70.5±11.8mS. The neuropathy score obtained was 39.5±16.2%, with no significant difference between men and women (p = 0.289). By univariate analysis, age (p = 0.0355), blood glucose (p = 0.015), waist circumference (p = 0.0006), the glycated hemoglobin (p = 0.0378), the duration of diabetes (p = 0.0006), systolic blood pressure (p = 0.0378) and size (p = 0.0062) were associated with neuropathy score. In multivariate analysis, there was an association between neuropathy score and the body mass index, weight, duration of diabetes, glycated hemoglobin and glycemia. Conclusion: The conductance of the feet and hands as well as neuropathy score obtained by the sudoscan are associated with other parameters of the metabolic syndrome. The sudoscan can therefore provide information regarding to the glycemic control of diabetics.