A study to identify autonomic dysfunction using sympathetic skin response in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in a tertiary care hospital

Abstract

Autonomic dysfunction has been identified and recognized as a complication of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. But the use of sympathetic skin response as a valid measure of autonomic dysfunction has been questionable. This study uses sympathetic skin response to identify autonomic dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Aim

To assess the incidence of autonomic dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus using sympathetic skin response test and H-R variability.

Methodology

This is a prospective study conducted on 30 patients diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Sympathetic skin response of the upper and lower limbs and Heart rate variability (by R-R interval) was studied and the observations recorded. The results of the above studies have been recorded and analysed.

Result

Decreased sympathetic skin response (amplitude and latency) in the lower limb was observed in 50% of the type 2 diabetic patients and Decreased sympathetic skin response (amplitude and latency) in the upper limb was observed in 26.6% of the type 2 diabetic patients. R-R interval was within the normal range (0.6-1.2) in all the patients.

Conclusion

Decreased sympathetic skin response is common in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients which can be used to identify autonomic dysfunction in these patients. The lower limbs are more affected compared to the upper limbs.