title: Cardiovascular autonomic function and vibration perception threshold in type 2 diabetes mellitus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare cardiovascular autonomic function tests (AFT) and vibration perception threshold (VPT) of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted on 60 diabetic patients comparing with 30 controls. The cardiovascular AFT and VPT were assessed in both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among cardiovascular AFT, E:I ratio [1.24 (1.2-1.32) vs 1.3 (1.24-1.4), p=0.001], and Valsalva ratio [1.28 (1.22-1.4) vs 1.6 (1.5-1.73), p=0.001], the indicators of parasympathetic reactivity were reduced in T2DM. Rise in DBP during handgrip, an indicator of sympathetic reactivity was lower in T2DM [12 (10-14) vs 16 (14-18) mmHg, p=0.001] whereas, fall in SBP during head up tilt [4 (4-8) vs 5 (4-8) mmHg] was comparable. VPT (somatic sensation) was comparable between T2DM and control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Autonomic involvement is more marked than somatic, and parasympathetic involvement is more marked than the sympathetic, possibly reflecting severity and chronological pattern of their involvement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Nepalgunj Medical College, Nepalgunj, Nepal. goit_rajesh@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Rajesh Kumar
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Goit
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Khadka
authors.forename: Sanjib Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Nirmala
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Limbu
authors.forename: Bishnu Hari
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Paudel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000294:innervation*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056152:Respiratory Rate / Q000502:physiology; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D018667:Tilt-Table Test; D055698:Touch Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D014732:Vibration