[Function of the neuromotor apparatus in diabetes mellitus]

Peculiarities of the reflex and motor responses (H-and M-responses) of the soleus muscle in stimulation of the tibial nerve were studied in 69 patients with diabetes mellitus and in 44 healthy persons. The ratio of the maximal amplitudes of the H/M potentials studied usually decreased in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy in comparison with analogous indices in healthy persons. However, in the presence of labile or ketoacidotic forms of diabetes H/M increased considerably. Accelerated restoration of the H-reflex amplitude in coupled stimulations of the nerve in such patients indicated intensification of the facilitating cerebrospinal influences. A marked increase of the tendon and H-reflexes amplitude in patients with diabetes against the background of Jendrassik's method pointed to a possible deafferentation of the spinal centres. The results obtained indicated that, irrespective of the manifestations of the neuropathy symptoms, there were functional disturbances of both the segmental and suprasegmental formations controlling the motor function.