Abstract

Background: Insulin resistance and dyslipidemia are intertwined processes that are intimately associated with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Hyperlipidemia is an established risk factor for earlier development of cardiovascular and neurological complications in T2DM. There are controversial evidences for association of hyperlipidemia and sensory neuropathy in non-diabetic (NDM) individuals. So, this study was taken up to compare the sensory thresholds in type 2 diabetic and non-diabetic individuals with eulipidemia and dyslipidemia. Methodology: Fasting blood sugar and lipid profile of 50 diabetic and 50 non- diabetic individuals were estimated. Using lipid profile, subjects in each group were further subgrouped into eulipidemics and dyslipidemics. The sensory threshold (in Volts) for vibration sense was evaluated using Biothesiometer. Results: Among the 50 diabetics, 16 were eulipidemics and 34 were dyslipidemics. Among the 50 non diabetics, 32 were eulipidemics and 18 were dyslipidemics. The sensory thresholds were significantly higher among diabetics than non diabetics (19.1±5 vs 15.6±4.6). The sensory thresholds were significantly higher in dyslipidemic diabetics than eulipidemic diabetics (20.7±4.8 vs 15.6±3). Also, thresholds were significantly higher in dyslipidemic non diabetics than eulipidemic non diabetics (18.1±4.9 vs 14.2±4). Conclusion: Dyslipidemia is strongly associated with the development of sensory neuropathy in non - diabetics and dyslipidemia augments the progression of sensory neuropathy in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

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