Purpose: Diabetes mellitus is a major public health problem.
Diabetic polyneuropathy (DP) is one of the most common
complications of diabetes mellitus. The early detection of DP is
very important for timely treatment of symptoms and
preventative foot care.
Methods: Participants were sorted into 3 age- and sex-matched
groups: 20 “healthy” individuals; 21 diabetic patients without DP
symptoms, “asymptomatic”; and 24 diabetic patients suffering
from symptoms consistent with DP, “symptomatic.” All study
participants had normal results on conventional nerve
conduction studies. All groups underwent both medial plantar
mixed nerve conduction (as a single-shock stimulation
technique) and superficial radial nerve conduction (double-shock
stimulation) measurements. Interstimulus intervals of 2 to 8 ms were used to record sensory nerve action potentials (SNAP) 1
and SNAP 2 for both stimuli.
Results: We found statistically significant decreases in medial
plantar NAPs’ amplitude and conduction velocity, and SNAP1/
SNAP2 ratios between the three groups, especially at smaller
interstimulus intervals.
Conclusions: Both medial plantar mixed nerve conduction and
double-shock superficial radial nerve stimulation are reliable methods
for the early detection of asymptomatic DP. However, the medial
plantar mixed nerve technique is easier and less time-consuming.