Sural Nerve Conduction Studies in Prediabetics and Diabetics in North Indian Population

Abstract

Nerve conduction studies (NCS) are the most sensitive and reproducible measure of peripheral nerve functions. These can define and quantitate normal nerve activity. These tests examine the state of rapidly conducting myelinated fibres in a peripheral nerve. Most of the nerve dysfunctions begin in the sensory nerves of the lower extremities. So measurement of sensory function in the lower limb nerves by electrical stimulation is investigational in diabetics. The sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) and sensory latency (SNSL) of sural nerve provides the highest diagnostic sensitivity. Evaluation of sural nerve conduction velocity in prediabetic and diabetic to assess neuropathy. Examination of nerve conduction velocity (NCV) was done in 79 subjects (16 prediabetic and 63 diabetics) by using Synergy machine Viasys. Right and left sural nerve latency were significantly higher and sural nerve velocity were significantly lower in diabetics when compared to prediabetics but in both nerve amplitudes did not differed significantly. Increased Sural nerve latency indicates increased demyelination and decreased sural velocity shows decreased speed of nerve impulse in diabetics when compared to prediabetics indicating progressive neuropathy in diabetics.