A Study of Nerve Conduction in Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background: Neuropathy is one of the most common complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) which can cause sensory deficit, neurological disorder, limb ulcers resulting in amputation. Hence, judicious neurological examinations at appropriate time intervals to determine nerve conduction velocity (NCV) are of prime importance to avoid catastrophic consequences like amputations. Aim: The present study aimed to investigate NCV in newly diagnosed asymptomatic diabetes patients and compare the results with age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Material and Methods: The present study was an observational case-control study in 50 T2D out-patient and 50 healthy controls aged 31-60 years who offered informed consent during the year 2015 to 2017. In all patients, neurological examination, NCV, and F wave latencies of tibial and peroneal were examined and recorded. The data obtained were analyzed using MS-excel and Minitab software. RESULTS: The results showed that even in the newly diagnosed participants there is impairment in F wave latency as compared to controls and there is a positive correlation with fasting blood glucose (FBG), (r=0.76 to 0.78; P=0.00). Both sensory NCV of superficial peroneal and sural nerve and motor nerve conduction of tibial and peroneal nerve has a negative correlation with FBG (r=-0.68 to -0.74; P=0.00). The sensory nerve is more impaired than the motor. Impairment is bilaterally symmetrical and features are primarily suggestive of axonal neuropathy. CONCLUSION:This signifies that even in asymptomatic patients; neuropathy might have already set in with severity directly proportional to FBG. Hence, it would be prudent at the time of diagnosis of T2D itself to perform NCV to would ensure early diagnosis and optimize BG levels.