DIABETIC POLYNEUROPATHIES: OPTIONS OF THE COURSE AND INFLUENCE ON THE QUALITY OF PATIENTS’ LIFE

Abstract

Diabetic peripheral polyneuropathy (DPN) is one of the most frequent and serious complications of diabetes mellitus (DM). Appearing at any stage of the evolution of diabetes, polyneuropathy determines the severity of the underlying disease and often leads to disability of patients. Among the lesions of the peripheral nervous system in diabetes, as a rule, diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy and autonomic neuropathy are distinguished. Of great practical importance is diabetic autonomic neuropathy (DAN), the development of which has a significant effect not only on the course of diabetes, increasing metabolic disturbances, but also on the psycho-emotional state of patients, their social adaptation, restricts professional activity and often has a traumatic effect with appropriate psycho-emotional consequences up to the development of mental disorders. The most common form of DPN is recognized as chronic symmetric sensorimotor polyneuropathy (CSSMPN), which is manifested by sensations of numbness, chilliness, tingling and/or pain in the extremities, symmetric disturbances of all types of sensitivity (pain, temperature, tactile and vibration) are also observed — in areas of type of «socks» and «gloves». The overwhelming majority of patients with CSSMPN note emotional discomfort, communication problems, including in the family, and, in general, show lower quality of life indicators than patients with diabetes in the absence of DPN. In case of violation of the sensitivity of the fingers and the occurrence of other neuropathic manifestations, the use of portable glucometers and thin test-strips during self-monitoring can cause certain difficulties in patients. For people with impaired finger sensitivity, it is advisable to use BIONIME Rightesttm test-strips, the design of which provides convenience when using them.