Correlation Study Between Development of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy, Level of Glycosylated Hemoglobin and Duration of Diabetic Mellitus

Background: Diabetic neuropathy is one of the most common microvascular complications associated with diabetes mellitus.Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) has been linked to hyperglycaemia and long duration of uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) as measured by glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c).To our knowledge the estimated duration between diagnosis and developing DPN and the level of HbA1c have not yet been investigated in Sudanese patients with type 2 DM.Therefore, this study aims to investigate the relationship between the duration of diabetes and HbA1c with nerve conduction velocity (NCV) in patients with type 2 DM.Objective: This study aims to investigate the correlation between the development of DPN, levels of HbA1c, and the duration of diabetes mellitus. Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 250 diabetic patients diagnosed with DM for at least 4 year.Patients underwent clinical assessments for DPN, including sensory and motor tests, and HbA1c levels were measured.Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients to assess relationships between DPN severity, HbA1c levels, and diabetes duration. Results:The study found a significant positive correlation between the duration of DM and the severity of DPN (r = 0.836, p < 0.001).Additionally, higher HbA1c levels were strongly associated with increased DPN severity (r = 0.836, p < 0.05).Patients with HbA1c levels above 7% had a significantly higher incidence of DPN compared to those with lower levels (p < 0.01). Conclusion:The findings indicate that both prolonged duration of diabetes and poor glycemic control, as reflected by elevated HbA1c levels, are significant risk factors for the development of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.These results underscore the importance of effective glycemic management and regular monitoring of diabetes duration to mitigate the risk of DPN in diabetic patients.