Prevalence and Determinants of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy/Foot Syndrome in a Rural Population of North India Introduction

Background Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), a common and troublesome complication in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), contributes to a higher risk of diabetic foot ulcer and lower limb amputation. These situations can negatively impact the quality of life of affected individuals.Objectives The study aimed to assess prevalence of DPN in patients of type 2 DM from rural North India and associated risk factors. Methods A facility based cross sectional study was carried out among type 2 diabetic patients attending NCD clinic of a secondary care hospital in rural North India. A questionnaire which included socio-demographic details, clinical and laboratory parameters, and the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI) for detecting peripheral neuropathy, was administered to 100 consecutive patients. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0 was used for entering and analyzing data. Bivariate analysis was performed for determining the factors significantly associated with presence of DPN. Results The prevalence of DPN was 42.0%. Male gender, advancing age(≥60 years), longer duration of diabetes (>10 years ), smoking, physical inactivity, obesity, uncontrolled blood pressure, poor A glycaemic control and altered lipid profile were found to be significantly associated with the presence of DPN. Conclusion Prevalence of DPN among type 2 diabetics from rural north India is alarmingly high. There is need of essential screening of all diabetic patients by their primary care provider for early detection of DPN particularly in rural India.