[Fasting and postprandial blood glucose in subjects with crural pain and sciatica]

The search for diabetes in a patient with crural neuralgia is well established practice. The prevalence of diabetes in the general population is not known, and studies attempting to demonstrate a relationship between diabetes and radiculopathies have been inconclusive. In the present study, fasting and postprandial blood glucose determinations, as well as 14 other parameters, were analyzed in 88 patients with classical sciatica, 27 with crural neuralgia, and 42 with only back pain. Multidimensional statistical analysis revealed that patients with crural neuralgia were older than those with classical sciatica or only back pain, and that there were no differences in blood glucose regulation. The concept that diabetes is found more frequently in patients with crural neuralgia should be revised, since age appears to be the only factor responsible for changes in glucose regulation.