Diabetic peripheral neuropathy: a correlation of nerve conduction studies and clinical findings

The electrophysiologic and clinical characteristics of diabetes were studied in 56 patients having diabetes of adult onset. Historical data including age, duration of diabetes, treatment type, family history and clinical symptoms were noted. Nerve conduction studies of the median, ulnar, peroneal, tibial and sural nerves were performed, and the H reflex was determined. Clinical sensory function of vibration, light touch, and two-point discrimination, muscle stretch reflexes in all four extremities and skin temperatures in the lower extremities were recorded. The data indicated a close correlation of clinical and electrophysiologic findings. The data supported the concept that diabetic peripheral neuropathy is progressive. It was concluded that diabetic peripheral neuropathy was present if two of the following three determinations were abnormal: median motor or sensory latency, ulnar sensory latency and sural latency.