Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 2, 2026
05:49
Alternate Immersion in Glucose to Produce Prolonged Hyperglycemia in Zebrafish
Published on: May 5, 2021
Blink reflex alterations in diabetic patients with or without polyneuropathy
Figen Guney1, Orhan Demir, Mustafa Sait Gonen
1Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey. guneyfigen@yahoo.com.tr
The International Journal of Neuroscience
|August 14, 2008
Summary
Blink reflex testing aids early cranial neuropathy diagnosis in diabetics. Prolonged latencies in diabetic patients, especially those with polyneuropathy, indicate facial nerve involvement before peripheral symptoms appear.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Diabetology
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Diabetic neuropathy is a common complication.
- Early diagnosis of cranial neuropathy is crucial for management.
- Blink reflex abnormalities can indicate neurological dysfunction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the utility of blink reflex for early cranial neuropathy detection in diabetic patients.
- To differentiate between diabetic patients with and without polyneuropathy using blink reflex parameters.
Main Methods:
- Ninety-five diabetic patients were enrolled.
- Participants were categorized into groups based on the presence of diabetic neuropathy.
- Blink reflex parameters (R1, R2i, R2c latencies) were measured and compared to controls.
Main Results:
- All diabetic patients, with or without polyneuropathy, showed significantly prolonged blink reflex latencies (R1, R2i, R2c) compared to controls (p < .001).
- Diabetic patients with polyneuropathy exhibited significantly longer R1 latencies than those without (p < .001).
- Findings suggest severe facial nerve involvement in diabetic polyneuropathy.
Conclusions:
- Blink reflex is valuable for detecting subclinical cranial nerve dysfunction in diabetics.
- This method can identify intra-axial brainstem or extra-axial lesions before peripheral neuropathy is clinically evident.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:27Diabetic Retinopathy
DefinitionDiabetic retinopathy is a microvascular complication of diabetes affecting the retinal blood vessels.Risk FactorsDiabetic retinopathy is present in almost all individuals with type 1 diabetes and more than 60% of those with type 2 diabetes after two decades of disease.The risk increases with poor glycemic control, hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, pregnancy, and puberty.Although cataracts and glaucoma are also more frequent in people with diabetes, retinopathy remains the leading...
01:22Diabetic Neuropathy
DefinitionDiabetic neuropathy is nerve damage caused by long-standing diabetes mellitus. It results directly from prolonged high blood sugar levels.PathophysiologyThe pathophysiology of diabetic neuropathy involves both metabolic and vascular disturbances triggered by chronic hyperglycemia.Metabolic injury: Elevated glucose levels activate the polyol pathway within nerve cells, leading to the accumulation of sorbitol and fructose. This increases oxidative stress, disrupts normal nerve...
01:28Diabetic Nephropathy
Definition Diabetic nephropathy is a chronic kidney complication that results from prolonged hyperglycemia.Prevalence It is the most common cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) worldwide, affecting up to half of individuals with diabetes.Pathophysiology • Sustained hyperglycemia triggers multiple hemodynamic and metabolic changes in the kidney. • Early in the disease, increased renal blood flow and glomerular hyperfiltration occur due to afferent arteriolar...
01:19Type I Diabetes III: Clinical Manifestations
Type 1 diabetes mellitus typically presents with rapid-onset symptoms due to the body’s inability to utilize glucose in the absence of insulin. Since insulin is required for glucose uptake into cells, its deficiency leads to hyperglycemia and cellular energy deprivation, resulting in characteristic clinical features.Polyuria and PolydipsiaOne of the earliest, most prominent symptoms is polyuria (excessive urination). When blood glucose concentrations rise above the renal threshold, the kidneys...
01:25Type II Diabetes Mellitus III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnosis
Type 2 diabetes mellitus develops gradually and is often asymptomatic in early stages.Clinical ManifestationsWhen symptoms appear, they include fatigue, blurred vision, pruritus, delayed wound healing, and recurrent infections, particularly candidal infections. Peripheral neuropathy may present as numbness or tingling in the extremities. Classic hyperglycemia symptoms—polyuria, polydipsia, and polyphagia—are less common. Most patients are overweight and frequently have associated hypertension...
01:21Peripheral Arterial Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Evaluation
Clinical manifestationsPeripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) manifests through a range of symptoms, from the characteristic intermittent claudication to atypical presentations and severe complications in advanced stages. Intermittent claudication, a hallmark symptom of PAD, presents as exercise-induced muscle pain that typically resolves within minutes of rest. This pain is reproducible and stems from inadequate blood flow, leading to the accumulation of lactic acid produced during anaerobic...