A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL FINDINGS OF SENSORY NERVES IN PATIENTS WITH DIABETES MELLITUS AND HEALTHY CONTROLS IN AND AROUND DIBRUGARH TOWN.

Diabetes mellitus is now considered a major health problem worldwide, with serious socio-economic impacts. The metabolic dysregulation associated with diabetes causes secondary pathophysiologic changes in multiple organ systems. Both microvascular and macrovascular complications predominate the scenario of diabetes mainly due to delayed diagnosis and late presentation of the disease. Diabetic neuropathy is the most common and troublesome complication of diabetes, leading to great mortality and morbidity. Diabetic polyneuropathy worsens gradually without clinical symptoms until the condition is fairly advanced, hence the need for early diagnosis. Electrophysiological studies are the most sensitive and specific methods for detecting diabetic polyneuropathy. The present study was designed to evaluate and compare nerve conduction study parameters in sensory nerves in patients of diabetes mellitus and in normal healthy controls in and around Dibrugarh. The study included 30 healthy controls and 60 known cases of diabetes, all aged 40-60 years. Of the 60 diabetics, 30 presented with symptoms of neuropathy and 30 presented without symptoms of neuropathy. Nerve conduction studies were performed using the equipment Neuro Perfect 4-channel EMG NCV EP and latencies, amplitudes and conduction velocities were evaluated. The latency, amplitude and velocity of sensory nerves in cases differed highly significantly from those in controls. The mean latencies, mean amplitudes and mean velocities of median and ulnar nerves of cases differed highly significantly as compared to controls.