[Clinico-electromyographic characteristics of spinal cord and peripheral nerve function in diabetic children]

By means of stimulating electromyography it was shown that children suffering from diabetes had a decrease in segmental motoneurone stimulation. It was manifested in the in the diminishing ratio of maximum reflex responses of the musculus soleus to the motor ones, in the delay of stimulation recovery, an inhibition of the Achilles tendon reflex. The changes mentioned were less pronounced in children with a history of hypoglycemic comas than in the rest children suffering from diabetes. It is suggested that some of EMG readings (the curve of motoneurone stimulation recovery, duration and asymmetry of the Achilles tendon reflex, rate of nervous impulse transmission may be of value for earlier revealing spinal motoneurone and peripheral nerve injuries in diabetes mellitus.