Sensory Perception Thresholds in Patients with Juvenile Diabetes and Their Close Relatives

Abstract

Since a sensory deficit in diabetes might be early and generalized, tactile and special senses were studied in relation to onset and duration of diabetes. Fifty-nine healthy persons 19 to 40 years of age and 53 age-matched and sex-matched persons with juvenile-onset diabetes of four weeks to 27 years' duration had five sensory thresholds measured: light touch and two-point discrimination of the right index finger and great toe, visual flicker fusion, auditory fusion and electric taste. All senses tested were impaired in the diabetic group. Abnormalities were present within two years of onset for light-touch, flicker fusion and electric taste. The abnormalities progressed with time only for two-point discrimination and flicker fusion. Thresholds in the finger correlated with those in the toe. Subjects with an immediate diabetic relative had an abnormally high threshold for two-point discrimination in the finger. Widespread defects in tactile and special sensory perception are present near the onset of juvenile diabetes.