Scotopic electrophysiology of the retina during transient hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes

To examine dark-adapted retinal function in subjects with type 2 diabetes during transient hyperglycemia.

Twenty-four subjects with type 2 diabetes and minimal diabetic retinopathy were randomized to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) or a fasting regimen. One study eye was kept in the dark-adapted state at all times. Full-field electroretinography (ffERG) and blood glucose measurements were performed at baseline and after 20, 80, 140, and 200 minutes.

Mean capillary glucose had increased 162% from the fasting baseline value when the concentration peaked in the OGTT group after 80 minutes (P < 0.0001). Concomitantly, rod b-wave amplitude had increased by 34% (P = 0.0007), whereas the a- and b-wave amplitudes of the standard combined rod-cone response had increased by 17% (P = 0.0013 and P = 0.0064). The dark-adapted 30-Hz flicker response was unaffected by hyperglycemia. The scotopic ffERG amplitudes rose and fell in phase with the glycemia. Implicit times did not change with the rise and fall in glycemia.

The change in scotopic signaling amplitude in the outer and middle layers of retina in subjects with diabetes was proportional to the change in capillary glucose. Cone amplitude was not influenced by hyperglycemia in this study.