The Relationship between Serum Uric Acid Levels and Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

This cross-sectional study explored the relationship between serum uric acid (SUA) levels and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The study included 70 patients with clinically confirmed DPN from a tertiary care hospital in South India. The mean age of participants was 60.4 years, with males comprising 78.6% of the population. The mean duration of diabetes was 12.81 years, and the average body mass index (BMI) was 23.90 kg/m?. The Participants had mean fasting and postprandial blood sugar levels of 164.58 mg/dL and 267.43 mg/dL, respectively, while the mean HbA1c was 8.88%, reflecting the moderate glycemic control. The mean SUA level was 5.15 mg/dL, with 10% of patients exhibiting hyperuricemia. Nerve conduction studies assessed motor and sensory nerve function. Motor nerve amplitudes ranged from 3.1 to 16.1 mV, with conduction velocities between 31.6 and 51.5 m/s. Sensory nerve amplitudes were between 1.0 and 7.1 ?V, and conduction velocities ranged from 11.3 to 42.0 m/s. Statistical analysis using Spearman correlation revealed no significant relationships between SUA levels and nerve conduction parameters, including motor and sensory amplitudes or velocities. Correlation coefficients ranged from -0.171 to 0.181, with all p-values exceeding 0.05. The study concludes that SUA levels do not significantly correlate with nerve conduction parameters in DPN patients, suggesting limited utility of SUA as a biomarker for nerve damage. These findings highlight the multifactorial nature of DPN, where glycemic control, oxidative stress, and vascular health play key roles. Future studies with larger populations are recommended to further investigate SUA?s role in DPN and its potential therapeutic implications.