title: Autonomic neuropathy in Type 2 diabetic patients is associated with hyperinsulinaemia and hypertriglyceridaemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To clarify whether parasympathetic neuropathy in Type 2 diabetic patients is associated with features of the insulin resistance syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood pressures, glycaemic control (HbA1c), plasma lipids, residual beta-cell function (fasting plasma C-peptide), autonomic nerve function, urinary albumin excretion and glomerular filtration rate (Cr-EDTA clearance) were evaluated in 82 Type 2 diabetic patients (age 63+/-years) 5 years after diagnosis of diabetes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Parasympathetic neuropathy (an abnormal age corrected E/I ratio) was found in 24/82 (29%) patients. After adjustment for body mass index (BMI), patients with parasympathetic neuropathy had elevated fasting plasma C-peptide (P < 0.001) and triglyceride (Tg) (P < 0.05) levels compared with patients without parasympathetic neuropathy. In addition, the age corrected E/I ratio correlated inversely with Tg (r=-0.31; P<0.01) and fasting plasma C-peptide (r=-0.32; P < 0.01) in the Type 2 diabetic patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Autonomic neuropathy 5 years after diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes is associated with an unfavourable metabolic risk profile.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular and Renal Diseases, University of Lund, Malmö University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gottsäter
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fernlund
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sundkvist
mesh_terms: D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D006946:Hyperinsulinism / Q000150:complications*; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000150:complications*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008875:Middle Aged; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013577:Syndrome