ABSTRACT
To determine the rate of distal symmetrical polyneuropathy [DSP] in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, to evaluate the role of history, neurological examination and the electrodiagnostic methods in the diagnosis of DSP, and to determine the association between electromyography-supported neuropathy [ESN], neuropathic complaints [NCs] and risk factors. A total of 191 type 2 DM patients [109 female, 82 male; mean age 58.7 +/- 10 years] were recruited. The NCs were recorded. All patients had electromyographic [EMG] examinations. The relationship between ESN, NCs and risk factors were evaluated. Of the 191 patients, 83 [43.5%] had DSP on EMG examinations and 92 [48.2%] patients suffered from NCs. Among the ESN patients, a significant relationship existed with HbA1[c] level, illness duration, smoking, male gender or insulin usage [p < 0.05] but not with age, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia or hypertriglyceridemia. The frequency of NCs was higher in patients with ESN. There was also a significant association between NCs and ESN [p < 0.05]. The presence of NCs was not related to age, gender, smoking, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia [p > 0.05] but NCs were correlated to HbA1[c] level, illness duration and insulin usage [p < 0.05]. Our data show that a strong association exists between the presence of DSP and illness duration, HbA1[c], smoking, thereby indicating that cessation of smoking and near normal glycemic control would be additional precautions to delay the beginning or progression of polyneuropathy