Neurological Complications of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Duration-Based Comparative Study at a Secondary Care Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan.

Objective Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) often leads to neurological complications that tend to increase in severity with disease duration. This study compared the prevalence of neurological symptoms in individuals with T2DM with respect to the duration of disease. Methodology This cross-sectional study was carried out over a six-month period at secondary care hospitals. A total of 420 patients with T2DM, aged between 40 and 65 years, were categorized into three equal groups of 140 based on duration of diabetes. Group A included newly diagnosed patients (less than or equal to one year), Group B comprised individuals with one to five years of diabetes, and Group C consisted of those with a duration exceeding five years. Clinical evaluations focused on glycemic control (glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and postprandial glucose) and neurological complications involving peripheral, autonomic, and central nervous systems. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 20 (Released 2012; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States), with chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests applied, with p-values <0.05 taken as statistically significant. Results This study's findings showed that Group A (less than or equal to one year) had significantly higher mean age, weight, BMI, respiratory rate, heart rate, and random blood sugar levels compared to Groups B and C. Gender distribution varied significantly, with all males in Group A and more females in Group B. Dyslipidemia and smoking history were significantly associated with diabetes duration (p < 0.001), while hypertension was not. Neuropathy symptoms, especially tingling and numbness, were more common in Group C, while autonomic symptoms like fatigue and irritability were highest in Group B. Socioeconomic status and type of therapy also showed significant differences across groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion This study concluded that peripheral neuropathy symptoms were more common in patients with longer diabetes duration, indicating progressive nerve damage over time. Some symptoms, such as burning pain and fatigue, appeared earlier, suggesting early metabolic changes. Autonomic symptoms also varied significantly, highlighting the complex progression of neurological involvement in T2DM.