Sensory thresholds for vibration, perception and pain in diabetic patients aged 15-50 years

The sensory thresholds for vibration, perception and pain were measured in 375/395 of all diabetic patients aged 15-50 years in Umeå county (population 118,500), 79% of whom had type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM). The results were compared with those from 100 healthy control subjects. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients had significantly elevated sensory thresholds compared to control subjects. In multiple regression analysis, patients with type 1 DM had significant associations between elevated sensory thresholds and age, duration of diabetes, height but not with smoking. Type 2 diabetic patients had a significant association only with height and control subjects with age and height. Thresholds were significantly higher in men than in women with type 1 and type 2 DM and in control subjects but were no longer significant after normalizing for height. Thus, age, duration of DM and tall stature appear to be major risk factors and smoking a minor risk factor for elevation of sensory thresholds both in type 1 and type 2 DM and also in healthy control subjects. Gender differences depend on differences in height.