The frequency of neuropathy and predictive parameters in prediabetic cases from Turkiye

Diabetic sensorimotor peripheral neuropathy causes patients to have foot injuries without realizing it. This condition may progress to diabetic foot ulcer; infections can include osteomyelitis and lower limb amputations. Managing diabetes and screening diabetic neuropathy is crucial to reducing patient mortality, quality of life, functionality, and the cost burden of complications to the healthcare system. We aim to contribute to the literature by comparing diagnostic methods and examining parameters that can predict neuropathy early.

A total of 108 patients with a neuropathy score Douleur Neuropathique-4 (DN-4) above 4, 54 with known diabetes, and 54 with prediabetes were included. Fasting plasma glucose, oral glucose tolerance test, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, uric acid, vitamin B12, folic acid, creatinine, and complete urinalysis was performed on 108 patients included. Afterward, a monofilament test, tuning fork test, and electromyography were performed by the neurologist to prove neuropathy.

The frequency of neuropathy in the prediabetes group was found to be 0.40 ± 0.49 % using EMG. This rate is 0.71 ± 0.45 % for diabetic neuropathy. The difference is statistically significant (p = 0.001) in the prediabetic group, the neuropathy score (DN-4 score) was 5.1 ± 0.9, the tuning fork test positivity was 0.18 ± 0.39, and p = 0.001 was statistically significant compared to the diabetic group. Also, in the monofilament test, the rate of neuropathy in the prediabetes group was again statistically significant with 0.68 ± 0.47 (p = 0.027). Total cholesterol (185.1 ± 21.8, p = 0.003), high uric acid (5.11 ± 1.27, p = 0.003), and low folic acid (4.5 ± 1.05, p = 0.026) are found to be statistically significant between diabetic and prediabetic groups.

In diagnosing neuropathy, monofilament, and diapason testing can be used in the clinical setting, and they have been found to be successful tests in the diagnosis of neuropathy. Also, our analysis indicates the relationship between low folic acid, high total cholesterol/uric acid levels, and prediabetic neuropathy. The role of intervening blood levels of those factors with medications in preventing neuropathy is unclear. We recommend further investigating all the patient's dietary habits to find possible risk factors, as well as investigating patients with low folic acid and high total cholesterol/ uric acid levels much more cautiously.

Neuropathy should be screened in prediabetic and diabetic patients, and possible risk factors should be assessed periodically.