Evaluation of Peripheral and Central Neuropathy in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients by Using Somatosensory Evoked Potential

Introduction: In recent days, central nervous system is most commonly affected by complication of diabetes mellitus and it could be determined by Somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP). This is a non invasive tool to diagnose the degree of peripheral and central nervous system involvement. So in view of this the present study is conducted to evaluate peripheral and central neuropathy in patients with type 2 Diabetes mellitus by using SSEP.

Method: Forty patients(40) with type 2 Diabetes mellitus(DM) of 8 to 12 years duration in 40 to 60 years age group including both gender were taken as a study group (Group 1).They were selected from diabetic out patient in Thanjavur medical college hospital, and compared with control group (Group 2) who were normal subjects and was age and sex matched. All groups were subjected to physical examination and laboratory investigations including Fasting blood glucose, renal functions in addition to SSEP. Cervical N13, cortical N20 latencies and central conduction time (N20- N13) was evaluated using median SSEP and compared between the study group and control group and statistically analyzed.

Result: Somatosensory evoked potential of (median) cervical N13, cortical N20 latencies and central conduction time (N20- N13) were prolonged in the study group compared to control group and the difference was statistically significant.

Conclusion: Our study shows that both Peripheral and cortical latencies of SSEP were evaluated and observed. Prolonged latencies suggest the existence of peripheral and central neuropathy in type 2 DM.