Table 4 Patients with DSP and DM compared to those with DM and additional factors for neuropathy: clinical features.
| DM as only cause for neuropathy (n = 48) | DM and another potential cause for neuropathy (n = 55) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean (SD) | Range | Mean (SD) | Range | p value | |
| Demographic features | |||||
| Age (years) | 66 (13) | 33–92 | 63 (13) | 26–81 | 0.38 |
| Male gender | 27/48 | 31/55 | 0.72 | ||
| Duration of diabetes (years) | 8.6 (8.7) | 0.1–40 | 10.8 (8.9) | 0.5–47 | 0.09 |
| Duration of neuropathy symptoms (years) | 3.3 (3.6) | 0.15–20 | 3.7 (4.0) | 0.17–20.0 | 0.86 |
| Primary referral source | 29/48 | 29/55 | 0.28 | ||
| Type II DM | 46/48 | 49/55 | 0.24 | ||
| HbA1c level | 7.2 (1.6) | 4.6–12.9 | 7.7 (2.1) | 5.1–14.2 | 0.32 |
| Insulin therapy | 10/48 | 15/55 | 0.50 | ||
| Neuropathic symptoms | |||||
| Pain | 28/48 | 41/55 | 0.10 | ||
| Paraesthesias | 32/48 | 33/55 | 0.54 | ||
| Imbalance | 25/48 | 28/55 | 0.68 | ||
| Upper limb sensory symptoms | 7/48 | 25/55 | 0.001* | ||
| Weakness | 3/48 | 12/55 | 0.03 | ||
| Progressive course | 32/48 | 39/55 | 0.67 | ||
| Examination findings | |||||
| Sensory score | 63.2 (13.3) | 22–78 | 57.0 (16.7) | 14–78 | 0.05 |
| Romberg present | 13/48 | 20/55 | 0.40 | ||
| Upper limb sensory loss | 7/48 | 23/55 | 0.003* | ||
| Toe extensor weakness | 4/48 | 14/55 | 0.04 | ||
*Significant p value.