Sensory nerve conduction in diabetes mellitus and diabetic neuropathy

Electrophysiological evaluation of conduction in sensory fibres of right ulnar and median nerves were carried out in normal subjects and diabetics with and without neuropathy. The sensory conduction velocities of ulnar as well as median nerves are significantly depressed in both groups of diabetics, particularly in those with neuropathy. The diabetics with or without neuropathy require a higher strength of stimulus for conduction in both median and ulnar nerves as compared to the normal subjects. The amplitude of action potentials is also lowered in both ulnar and median nerves of the two groups of diabetics. Estimation of conduction velocities of sensory fibres can be considered as a more useful parameter than the measurement of amplitude of action potentials in the diagnosis and evaluation of neuropathy in diabetics. It is concluded that assessment of sensory nerve conduction in median nerve is a better indicator than that of ulnar nerve for this purpose.