Diabetic Neuropathy as the Commonest Diabetic Complication in Patients Attending the Diabetes Center in Arar, Northern Saudi Arabia

Download PDF

Background: Previous literature estimates that 50 to 66 percent of DM patients would ultimately experience PN at some points in their lifespan. Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of diabetic neuropathy and its associated risk factors in patients with diabetes mellitus attending the diabetes center in Arar, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out in the diabetes center in Arar, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected by personal interviews with the diabetic patients attending the diabetes center, and filling a predesigned questionnaire that included the following items; patient’s code, department of residency, sex, age, marital status, educational level, occupation, compliance to DM treatment, fasting blood glucose level, diagnosis of diabetic neuropathy, type of received treatment, manifestations of DNP if found, and vital status. Results: DNP was reported in 26.4% of the studied DM patients. The most common DNP manifestations reported by the patients were inability to feel the feet while walking in 85.5%, pain in legs or feet in 78.2%, and weakness of the limbs in 70.9%, numbness and tingling in the legs or feet in 69.1% and 65.5%. More than half the patients (58.2%) had muscle spasms in the legs or feet, 52.7% suffered from dryness and cracking of the skin of the feet, 61.8% reported that symptoms worsen at night. Leg amputation was reported in 6 (10.9%) of patients. Conclusion: In our study, DNP was reported in 26.4% of the studied DM patients. DNP showed a statistically significant relation with BMI group, chronic hypertension, the period of DM, compliance with DM treatment, type of DM treatment, physical exercise, and fasting blood glucose level. On the other hand, DNP showed a statistically insignificant relation with gender, age group, and smoking.