A study on the Utility of Nerve
Conduction Studies in Type 2
Diabetes Mellitus
529-531
Correspondence
Kanavi Roopa Shekharappa
Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology
Sri Rajarajeshwari Medical College
Bangalore- 560026, Karnataka, India.
Mobile: 09844414103
Email ID: roopa.tejaswi@gmail.com
Back ground and Objectives: Neuropathy is one of the common complications of diabetes, in which the patient’s quality of life is compromised. Nerve conduction studies (NCS) are not commonly employed to detect the neuropathy. The present study was undertaken to find out the utility of NCS as early indicator of neuropathy in diabetic patients.
Methods: 45 diabetes mellitus patients with normal HbA1c levels and 45 diabetes mellitus patients with elevated HbA1c levels were selected, making it a total of 90 diabetes mellitus patients. 45 non-diabetic, healthy subjects were chosen as acontrol group. The nerve conduction velocity was tested in all the diabetic subjects and the healthy controls.
Results: The analysis showed that the nerve conduction velocity progressively decreased from the controls (49.0 ± 3.9) to the diabetics with a good glycaemic control (47.2 ± 2.8), to the diabetics with a poor glycaemic control (45.3 ± 3.1).
Interpretation and Conclusion: There is a progressive neuronal involvement in the diabetic process which is accelerated by poor glycaemic control. Therefore, nerve conduction studies can be employed for testing and for the early indication of neuropathy in diabetic patients.