Effect of blood glucose levels on sensory nerve conduction parameters in prediabetics: A cross sectional study

Abstract

Background: “Prediabetic” is an intermediate state of increased blood sugar levels and is defined by American Diabetic Association as fasting blood sugar (FBS) levels in the range of 100 to 125 mg/dL. It is increasingly viewed with early forms of diabetic neuropathy in 25-62% of cases. Multiple studies showed hyperglycaemia to change the myelin’s phospholipid, fatty acids and cholesterol content and thus modifying its fluidity, ultimately affecting the functional capacities of the nerve. This study was taken to investigate the sensory nerve conduction velocity (NCV) and latency in prediabetic healthy male adults and to study its relationship with levels of FBS in them. Materials & Methods: 60 clinically healthy prediabetic males of age 30-50 years were included in this observational study. For comparison 30 clinically age matched healthy normoglycaemic (FBS<100 mg/dl) male adults were taken as control. Demographic, anthropometric and sural latency and NCV were compared using‘t’ test. Relations of FBS with different variables were investigated using Pearson’s correlation test. A p value <0 .05 was taken as significant. Results: Bilateral sural nerve latency (right 3.52±1.88 ms and left 3.83±1.98ms) was significantly increased in the prediabetics compared to normoglycaemics (right 2.41±1.24 ms and left 2.48±0.79ms). NCV of sural nerves of both sides (right 50.38±18.89 m/sec and left 46.13±17.93m/sec) were significantly decreased in prediabetics as compared to normoglycaemics (right: 62.60±13.44m/sec; left: 53.95±11.93m/sec). Latency of right and left sural nerves was significantly and positively correlated with FBS levels in prediabetes (r= 0.61; p<0.01 and r= 0.33; p<0.01 respectively). Right sural nerve conduction velocity was significantly and negatively correlated with FBS levels in prediabetes (r= -0.514; p<0.01). Conclusion: Prediabetics seems to have a lower peripheral sensory NCV as compared to normoglycaemic male adults of 30-50 years of age.