Numbness and paresthesia in bilateral toes and soles, and disproportional sweating restricted to face and trunk are suitable symptoms useful for the diagnosis of diabetic symmetric polyneuropathy.
Aims/Introduction:  In order to diagnose diabetic symmetric polyneuropathy (DSPN) more simply and accurately, we identified symptoms that correlated with neurological functions and existed more frequently in diabetic than non-diabetic subjects.


METHODS
The relationships between 10 symptoms (numbness or paresthesia in toe and sole, numbness in hand, pain in foot or hand, coldness in legs, painful leg cramp, dizziness on standing, sweating restricted to face/trunk and frequent constipation/diarrhea) and clinical background, defined as DSPN and cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) by the criteria proposed in the statement of the American Diabetes Association, and seven quantitative nerve function data were evaluated in 593 diabetic patients in Wakayama Medical University Hospital (WMUH). Furthermore, the prevalence of various symptoms was examined by three questionnaires: a WMUH survey (999 diabetic outpatients), a Nationwide survey (1524 male diabetic outpatients under a primary-care physician) and a Control survey (501 non-diabetic subjects).


RESULTS
Bilateral 'numbness in toe and sole', 'paresthesia in toe and sole', 'pain in foot' and 'sweating restricted to face/trunk' were significantly associated with diabetes duration, retinopathy, probable and confirmed DSPN, possible and advanced CAN, and all or six nerve functions. Questionnaire surveys clarified that symptoms that are not rare (>15%) and more frequent in diabetic than non-diabetic subjects were bilateral 'numbness in toe and sole', 'paresthesia in toe and sole', 'coldness in legs', 'dizziness on standing' and 'sweating restricted to face/trunk'.


CONCLUSIONS
Therefore, bilateral 'numbness in toe and sole', 'paresthesia in toe and sole' and 'sweating restricted to face/trunk' are suitable symptoms useful for the diagnosis of DSPN. (J Diabetes Invest, doi: 10.1111/j.2040-1124.2011.00124.x, 2011).
First Department of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
Muneki
M
Nakatani
First Department of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
Hideyuki
H
Sasaki
First Department of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
Seigo
S
Kurisu
First Department of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
Hiroyuki
H
Yamaoka
First Department of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
Shohei
S
Matsuno
First Department of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
Kenichi
K
Ogawa
First Department of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
Hiroshi
H
Yamasaki
First Department of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
Hisao
H
Wakasaki
First Department of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
Hiroto
H
Furuta
First Department of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
Masahiro
M
Nishi
First Department of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
Takashi
T
Akamizu
First Department of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
Kishio
K
Nanjo
Diabetic symmetric polyneuropathy; Prevalence; Specific symptoms