Association of disease duration and sensorimotor function in type 2 diabetes mellitus: beyond diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

PURPOSE

The aim of the study is to assess association of the duration of diabetes and vibration, proprioception, muscle strength, reaction time and balance measures in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) without peripheral neuropathy.

METHODS

Forty-seven type 2 diabetics without peripheral neuropathy and 23 healthy controls were recruited for the study. Patients with type 2 DM were further classified into 23 patients who suffered from diabetes for less than 5 years (<5yrDM) and 24 patients who had diabetes for 5 years and above (≥5yrDM). All participants were assessed for Michigan neuropathy screening instrument (MNSI), vibration perception threshold (VPT), proprioception, muscles strength, centre of pressure (COP) range, COP sway and reaction time.

RESULTS

≥5yrDM patients were found to significantly differ from healthy control in MNSI score ( ≤ 0.013), VPT score ( ≤ 0.002), reaction time ( ≤ 0.018), COP range ( ≤ 0.005) and COP sway ( ≤ 0.027). A significant difference was found only in reaction time ( < 0.002) except in the back direction ( = 0.089), and COP range ( ≤ 0.016) except in the front ( = 0.101) and right direction ( = 0.085) between <5yrDM patients and healthy controls.

CONCLUSIONS

≥5yrDM patients exhibit a subtle deterioration in VPT, reaction time, and balance measure while <5yr DM patients were impaired only in COP range and reaction time when compared with healthy control.