- Changes in Cutaneous Blood Flow in Type 2 Diabetics with or without Neuropathy and Retinopathy.
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Chang Hoon Choi, Ju Young Lee, Sin Won Lee, Gui Hwa Jung, Jung Guk Kim, Sung Woo Ha, Bo Wan Kim
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Korean Diabetes J. 2003;27(1):18-25. Published online February 1, 2003
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Abstract
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- BACKGROUND
Although diabetic microangiopathy has its greatest clinical effects in the retina, kidneys and nerves there is much evidence that the process is generalized, and that these lesions involve most capillary beds. However, the potential relationship between the presence of diabetic neuropathy, and/or retinopathy, and skin blood flow has not been fully evaluated. Therefore we measured the cutaneous blood flow in diabetics, both with and without microangiopathy, to determine the relationship between microangiopathy and the cutaneous blood flow. METHODS: One hundred-and nineteen type 2 diabetic patients were classified into four categories, based on the presence of polyneuropathy or retinopathy. The skin blood flow was measured in the diabetic patients with or without neuropathy and retinopathy, before, during and after exposure to cold. Before, during and 1 min after the application of a cold-pack, skin blood flow measurements were performed using a laser Doppler techniques at the following right-sided locations: (1) the dorsum of the wrist and ankle, as nutritive microvasculatures, and (2) the pulp of tip of the index finger and big toe, as themoregulatory ones. RESULTS: During the 1-min cold applications, the percentage changes in the decrement of the skin blood flow, at the 4 skin sites, showed decreasing trends in the neuropathy group. However, the differences in the diabetics with neuropathy were not significantly greater than in those without neuropathy. The changes at the same sites in the group with retinopathy were similar to those with neuropathy. The percentage changes in the increment of the skin blood flow were measured at the 4 skin sites 1 min after exposure to cold, and also showed a blunted tendency in both the diabetic neuropathy and retinopathy groups. The percentage changes in the flow increment at the pulp of the big toe were greater in the diabetics without neuropathy or retinopathy, compared to those with these complications (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that changes in the cutaneous blood flow would be more predominant at the thermoregulatory vasculature sites in the type 2 diabetics with neuropathy or retinopathy, and seems to be related to diabetic microangiopathy.
- Differences in Dynamic Plantar Pressure in Type 2 Diabetics with or without Peripheral Neuropathy.
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Gui Hwa Jeong, Ju Young Lee, Shin Won Lee, Chang Hoon Choi, Soon Hee Lee, Jung Guk Kim, Sung Woo Ha, Bo Wan Kim
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Korean Diabetes J. 2002;26(6):481-489. Published online December 1, 2002
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Abstract
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- BACKGROUND
Foot ulcers, and lower-extremity amputations, are relatively common complications of diabetes mellitus and their clinical management is very important. High plantar pressure is known to be a major risk factor of foot ulceration in diabetic patients. The EMED-system is used for the assessment of pressure distribution for the identification of focal areas at high risk of ulceration that merit protection from preventive footwear. However, a potential relationship between diabetic neuropathy and the plantar pressure has not been fully evaluated. Changes in the plantar pressure were measured in diabetic patients, both with and without peripheral polyneuropathy, using the EMED - AT system to clarify if diabetic neuropathy increases the plantar pressure. METHODS: Ninety seven patients with type 2 diabetes were divided into two groups on the basis of their peripheral polyneuropathy. No patient had a past history of foot ulceration. The clinical characteristics of 2 groups were analyzed, and their plantar pressures was measured using the EMED - AT system. These results were analyzed, with the EMED software program, after their division into ten masks for a so-called "regional analysis". The pressure time (PTI) and force- time (FTI) integrals were analyzed for each mask on both feet. RESULTS: The diabetic neuropathy (DN) group showed significantly higher FTI levels in both masks 05 (area of the 1st metatarsal head) and masks 08 (area of the hallux) than the diabetic control (DC) group. The PTI was also higher in right the mask 08 of the DN group than in the DC group. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that peripheral neuropathy to be an important risk factor, and predictor of diabetic foot ulcers, due to the increasing plantar pressure in some areas of the foot. Measurement of the plantar pressure may be a useful method for the diagnosis and monitoring of foot disorders in diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy.
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