Influence of duration of diabetes mellitus on the nerve conduction velocity.

ABSTRACT

150 known diabetic patients [7 males and 79 females] were divided into three groups according to the duration of the disease [below 5,5-9 and 10 and above years], the number of patients in each group was 62,6 and 2 respectively. The sensory conduction velocity of the sural nerve and the sensory and motor conduction velocities of the median, ulnar, peroneal and posterior tibial nerves were measured and compared in the three groups and also with results obtained from a control group of 40 nondiabetic subjects. Results from diabetic patients showed a significant reduction in the nerve conduction velocities, and a clear correlation between the duration of the disease and the severity of the neuropathy. The lower limb nerves were more severely affected, and the sensory conduction velocity was the most sensitive parameter which was affected earlier in diabetes mellitus