Gender differences in Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

Abstract

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is one of the most common disabling complications of diabetes mellitus. Aim: To find out gender-based differences in frequency of DM, duration of DM, neurologic examination and electrophysiological patterns. Methodology: cross sectional study was conducted at the Neurology department, Beni-Suef university hospital, Egypt. Patients fulfilling the ADA criteria for DM, and DPN were included in the study. All patients were submitted to Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument physical examination. Results: A total of 25 patients were included in the study with 9/25 (36%) males and 16/25 (64%)females. Although mean age of females [53.50+11.90yrs.] was lower than that of males [56.556+12.99 yrs.] but this difference was also not significant (p=.569). There was no significant difference (p=.311) in the mean duration of DM in men (10.11+8.23 yrs) and women (6.81+5.99 yrs).Insignificant difference in the mean of glycemic control between males (7.889+1.00) and females (8.219+.9050)( p=.427).There was no association between males (4.333+1.93) and females (4.25+1.34) in MNSI physical examination (p=.911). Conclusion: In our study, gender based differences in DPN are statistically not significant with respect to age at diagnosis of diabetes ,duration of DM ,HbA1c level ,MNSI and electrophysiological patterns. More studies are required to settle whether gender based differences in onset and progression of diabetic neuropathy exist.