Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Diabetic neuropathy is a degenerative complication of diabetes mellitus which can be restrictive. The objective of our work is to determine the prevalence of this complication in a type 2 diabetic population as well as its different risk factors

Methods: This is a retrospective study including 100 Tunisian type 2 diabetic patients followed up in the ‘C’ department at the National Nutrition Institute in Tunis.

Results: The average age of our population was 56.79 years. A female predominance was noted with a sex ratio of 1.9. The average duration of progression of diabetes was 11.28 years. The average HBA1C was 10.83 ± 2.26%. Almost a third of the population had diabetic neuropathy (31%) with no significant difference between the two sexes. The frequency of this complication was significantly correlated with the age and the duration of progression of diabetes (P = 0.025 and P = 0.002 respectively). It was best noted in the presence of diabetic retinopathy (P = 0.008). Diabetic neuropathy was correlated to higher HBA1C and microalbuminuria levels, but this was not significant. It was more common in hypertensive patients who represented more than half of the population. It was more noted in patients with dyslipidemia without this being significant. The uric acid level was significantly higher in the presence of diabetic neuropathy (P = 0.037). Twenty-three percent of the population was smoking with no statistical relationship to the onset of neuropathy.

Conclusion: As risk factors for diabetic neuropathy, we noted the age, duration of progression of diabetes, poor glycemic control, uricemia, hypertension and dyslipidemia. Being a potential source of invalidity, the screening of the risk factors of this complication and their control are essential.