Authors: Onwuegbuzie GA, Mshelia-Reng R
Abstract
Background:
The prevalence of diabetes mellitus worldwide is reaching epidemic proportions and is of significant concern, including Nigeria. Lower extremity foot disease, including peripheral neuropathy, foot ulceration, peripheral arterial disease, or lower extremity amputation, is common in diabetic persons. Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease with complications from long-term hyperglycaemia. In diabetics, polyneuropathy is typically characterized by the demyelination and degeneration of the axon.
In view of the various diagnostic methods used in diabetic peripheral neuropathy the prevalence varies widely, this is further compounded by the numerous risk factors.
Methods
This cross-sectional study was conducted where eighty-one consecutive patients with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus according to the American Diabetes Association criteria, attending Diabetes outpatient clinic at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital were included in the study. A standard proforma was employed to screen for diabetic neuropathy based on the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI) and followed by the administration Michigan Diabetic Neuropathy Score (MDNS) irrespective of the screening outcome.
Results
A total of 81 patients were included in the study out of which the majority 60 (74%) were between 40 and 59 years of age and there were more female patients 52 (64.2%) with diabetes, than males 29 (35.8%). A total of 38(46.91%) had poor glycemic control and 43(53.09%) had good glycemic control. The overall median age of the patient is 53.2 years. Nine (11.11%) had abnormal Michigan neuropathy symptom scores while 58 (71.60%) had abnormal Michigan neuropathy exam scores.
Conclusion
The review of our work showed that the prevalence of peripheral neuropathy was high among our diabetic patients. Since Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a window for both foot ulceration and amputation, evaluation of patients to identify those at risk remains critical.
Keywords: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy; prevalence, hyperglycemia.