PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY IN DIABETIC PATIENTS AND ITS CONTRIBUTING FACTORS

At least 2 million people are affected by type II diabetes mellitus in Iran. Neuropathy is one of the commonest complications of diabetes affecting the quality of life of patients and can result in foot ulcer and amputation. The current study aimed to examine possible factors that could alter development of diabetic neuropathy. In this case-control study, 110 diabetic patients were selected from Shariati hospital diabetes clinic. Michigan Neuropathic Diabetic Scoring (MNDS) was used to distinguish cases from controls. The neuropathic status of patients was confirmed with EMG-NCV. Multiple factors were compared between the two groups including ACE-I consumption, blood pressure, serum lipid level, sex, smoking, method of diabetes control and its quality. Statistically significant relations were found between neuropathy and age, gender, quality of glycemic control and duration of diabetes (P values: 0.04, 0.04, 0.000 and 0.005, respectively). No correlation existed between atherosclerotic risk factors (high BP, hyperlipidemia, cigarette smoking) and diabetic neuropathy. In this study, hyperglycemia was the only modifiable risk factor for diabetic neuropathy. Glycemic control can decrease the incidence of neuropathy and delay its progression leading to improvement in the quality of life in diabetics. Aged and male diabetic patients and those with poor diabetes control are groups in most need of regular foot exam and more practical educations.