Measuring the pain threshold and tolerance using electrical stimulation in patients with Type II diabetes mellitus

The aim of the study was to assess pain threshold and tolerance in diabetics with/without neuropathy and to compare that in with healthy controls.

In this cross-sectional and comparative study, 79 diabetics (57 without neuropathy and 22 with neuropathy) and 32 healthy controls (63 women and 48 men) with a mean age of 48.11+/-7.52 years were studied. Seventy-nine diabetics, aged 33 to 74, who met inclusion criteria were evaluated using electrical stimulation (faradic current) to assess pain threshold and tolerance on upper and lower extremities and were compared with healthy controls. They also were evaluated using Michigan Neuropathy Screening Index (MNSI), 5.07 mmg Semmes Weinstein Monofilament, and visual analog scale (VAS). Pain threshold and tolerance were measured experimentally.

Of all participants, 32.4% had pain complain. Eighteen diabetics without neuropathy (31.6%) and 9 diabetics with neuropathy (40.9%) reported pain. The result of upper and lower extremities' pain threshold and tolerance showed that there was a significant difference between diabetics and healthy participants (P<.05). Diabetics with neuropathy had the highest pain threshold and tolerance. The impairments in light touch sense were highest in diabetics with neuropathy (P<.05).

Measuring pain threshold and tolerance of diabetic patients using electrical stimulation is an easy, noninvasive, cheap and repeatable method and can be used for defining the onset of diabetic neuropathy and controlling prognosis at early stage.