Comparative Analysis of Electrophysiological Parameters of Median Nerve in Normal and Diabetic Subjects.

ABSTRACT

Peripheral neuropathy is a common complication in diabetic patients. Nerve conduction study is widely used for the assessment of diabetic polyneuropathy. This study was designed to characterize motor nerve conduction abnormalities in subjects having relatively shorter duration (2.28 ± 1.51 years) of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The median motor nerve conduction study was carried out on 40 male type 2 diabetic patients attending diabetic clinic in the department of medicine and 40 healthy male volunteers who served as control. Motor Distal latency (MDL), Amplitude (Amp) and Conduction Velocity (CV) were measured. On comparing the parameters of median nerves of both the groups, it was found that motor distal latency of (right and left) median nerves was higher in diabetics than in non diabetics with statistically significant difference. Results also showed decreased amplitude and conduction velocities of median nerve of both sides in diabetics (statistically significant). All the parameters were found correlated with blood sugar levels in diabetics.