Albuminuria and neuropathy in newly detected diabetics: profile and correlation

Neuropathy and nephropathy are two most common chronic complications of diabetes mellitus. Albuminuria and neuropathy has been found to be associated in patients with long standing diabetes. In the present study, the profiles of proteinuria and neuropathy have been studied in newly diagnosed cases of type 2 diabetes mellitus and attempt has been made to determine any relationship between the two. We studied 100 newly diagnosed ceases of type 2 diabetes mellitus and presence and type of neuropathy was assessed clinically and electrophysiologically. Albuminuria was detected by morning spot sample for albumin to creatinine ratio estimation. Results were analysed using appropriate statistical methods. It was found that 21 patients (21%) had proteinuria and 31 (31%) had neuropathy. Both were present in 16% patients and absent in 64% cases. The overall prevalence of neuropathy and proteinuria among study subjects was 36%. Isolated peripheral neuropathy was found in 9% patients, isolated autonomic neuropathy was found in 7% patients, and both were present in 15% cases. Proteinuria was mostly micro-albuminuria (90.5%). Occurrence of albuminuria and neuropathy has been found to be significantly associated with increasing age. Concurrence of diabetic neuropathy and albuminuria has been found to be significantly associated. The present study reveals that presence of neuropathy as well as nephropathy is common in newly diagnosed cases of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Both these complications have been significantly associated with increasing age indicating the possibility of a longer duration of undetected diabetes among them. Concurrence of neuropathy and nephropathy found in this study suggests that microvascular complications go hand in hand.