Capillary blood flow and capillary blood glucose in fingers and toes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

ABSTRACT

This study involved ten type 2 diabetic patients chosen clinically free from symptoms and signs of neuropathic foot diseases and peripheral vascular diseases [group A]; ten type 2 diabetic patients complicated with neuropathy [PN] +/- peripheral vascular disease [PVD] [group B] as well as ten healthy age-matched subjects used as controls [group C]. Full history and clinical examination, tests for microalbuminuria and glycosylated hemoglobin were done. Ankle/brachial index, laser Doppler study, capillaroscopy and capillary blood glucose for fingers and toes were done. The study concluded that the most prominent features of the early skin microvascular impairment found by laser Doppler flowmetry [LDF] in type 2 diabetes, an increase in the basal perfusion and a reduction of% of change post reactive hyperaemia [PRH] early in the course of the disease, were associated with a significantly higher capillary blood glucose in the toes of diabetic patients, either complicated or uncomplicated, when compared with their fingers