DETERMİNATİON OF NEUROPATHY DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY PERIOD IN METABOLIC SYNDROME AND TYPE 2 DIABETIC PATIENTS

Abstract

Introduction: Diabetes is a serious public health problem with rapidly increasing pandemics worldwide. Microvascular and macrovascular complications can begin before diabetes becomes evident. In order to prevent the progression of these complications especially in the early period, the diagnosis and treatment procedures should be well known. Sensory peripheral neuropathy, which is one of the microvascular complications, occurs with similar mechanisms in diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Our aim is to detect the presence of sensorial peripheral neuropathy in the early stages of diabetes, using simple screening tests in primary health care. Method A total of 135 patients, 45 patients of whom diagnosed with diabetes, 45 patients who met the criteria of metabolic syndrome and 45 healthy patients applied to the Internal Medicine outpatient clinic of Istanbul Medeniyet University Göztepe Training and Research Hospital were included in the study. In these patients, the presence of distal symmetrical sensorial peripheral neuropathy was investigated with the Semmes-Weinstein 10 g monofilament test. Results It was evaluated that 14 patients who were in the early stage of type 2 diabetes and 7 patients with metabolic syndrome had sensorial neuropathy according to the findings of the monofilamen test. When the relationship between patients anthropometric and biochemical values and neuropathy was examined, body mass index (p = 0.04), fasting blood glucose (p = 0.02), and patients' HbA1c (p = 0.001) were found to be significantly related to neuropathy. Conclusion: These results show that, hyperglycemia may cause peripheral neuropathy in patients diagnosed with diabetes and metabolic syndrome at early stage. Monofilament test can be used as primary neuropathy screening test. In this way, the development of diabetic foot and related complications can be prevented in primary care..