The effect of polyneuropathy severity on nerve conduction and pain syndrome in patients with type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Background. The article examines the relationship between nerve conduction indicators and polyneuropathy severity in patients with type 2 diabetes. The influence of polyneuropathy severity on nerve conduction was studied, as well as the effect of insulin therapy on these indicators. Objective: to determine the influence of polyneuropathy severity and the need for additional insulin administration in patients with type 2 diabetes on nerve conduction indicators and the development of pain syndrome. Materials and methods. Eighty patients with type 2 diabetes were examined, 49 men and 31 women. All of them underwent general clinical and biochemical laboratory tests to evaluate the hematopoietic system, li-ver, kidneys, fat and carbohydrate metabolism. The need for insulin therapy was assessed by the C-peptide level. To verify the diagnosis of diabetic polyneuropathy, complaints, clinical and instrumental examination data were evaluated. The main indicators of nerve conduction were taken into account when determining polyneuritis disorders, namely: рeroneal motor nerve conduction velocity, sensory nerve action potential of the sural nerve, sensory nerve conduction velocity of the sural nerve. Results. A dependence of nerve conduction on polyneuropathy severity was revealed, рeroneal motor nerve conduction velocity was the lowest in the group with severe polyneuropathy. A correlation was also found between the levels of sensory indicators (sensory nerve action potential and sensory nerve conduction velocity) and polyneuropathy severity, nerve conduction velocity decreases with an increase in the latter. The influence of polyneuropathy severity on the painful or painless form has been found. Among patients with severe polyneuropathy, the painful form was observed more often. No relationship was found between the need for insulin therapy and the painful or painless form of polyneuropathy. Conclusions. Indicators of nerve conduction depend on polyneuropathy severity. The presence and severity of pain syndrome directly depends on polyneuropathy severity. The need for additional insulin administration affects sensory indicators but has no effect on the development of the painful form of polyneuropathy.