Hyperglycaemia is one correlate of deterioration in vibration sense during the 5 years after diagnosis of type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes.

Seventy-one Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic patients showed only a slight deterioration in mean vibration sensory threshold (measured biothesiometrically) on the feet during the 5 years from diagnosis. However, multiple linear regression analysis of the wide range of individual changes in this threshold showed as significant independent associated factors the initial sensory threshold (p less than 0.001), age, gender, and both the mean fasting blood glucose and failure to become thinner under treatment (p less than 0.05 for all). The relationship with fasting glucose was stronger if the pre-treatment value was included in calculation of the mean (p less than 0.001). Mean fasting blood glucose under treatment accounted for only a small fraction of the total variance of the deterioration of the vibration sensory threshold, but represented one-twelfth of that attributable to identified factors, and one-third of the variance ascribable to factors subject to therapy. Interim values revealed the persistent effect of hyperglycaemia over the 5 years. An increase of 1 mmol/l in mean fasting blood glucose has an equivalent effect on the sensory threshold to an extra 5 years of age.