Alpha lipoic acid and glycaemic control in diabetic neuropathies at type 2 diabetes treatment.

INTRODUCTION Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic, chronic and incurable disease which reduces span and quality of life. Over 50% of diabetic patients have clinical manifestations of diabetic neuropathy. AIM To show a positive influence of alpha lipoic acid on clinically manifested diabetic neuropathy symptoms as well as the effect of alpha lipoic acid in patients glycaemic control. MATERIAL AND METHODS Testing has been conducted in Cantonal Hospital"Irfan Ljubijankic MD" in Bihac and included 20 diabetes type 2 patients who were diagnosed with clinically manifested diabetic neuropathy. All the patients' conditions were evaluated by: medical history, clinical parameters, detailed internal examination, laboratory analyses for glycaemic control assessment and mono filament test. They were treated with oral anti-diabetics and insulin as well as with alpha lipoic acid preparation in duration of four months. They were divided into two groups, with good (HbA1c < 7%) and poor (HbAc > or = 7%) glycaemic control. Medical control has been conducted four months after the research started. RESULTS Twenty patients took part in the research, 7 male and 13 female. The average age of the patients was 58.6 in the first and 55.6 years in the second group. The average patients' disease duration was 13.4 +/- 6.6 years in the first and 11.2 +/- 5.4 years in the second group. The difference in gender, average age and disease duration in both groups statistically is not significant (p < or = 0.05). The number of negative points after the therapy has been reduced for 56.4% in the first and 43.1% for the second group (p < or = 0.05). Prior to the treatment, all the patients in both groups had paresthesia. At medical checkup, there were 40% less patients in the first group and 10% in the second one (p < or = 0.01). The difference is statistically significant (p < or = 0.05) in night pain occurrence between two groups of patients after alpha lipoic acid treatment (40% more patients had night pain in the second group after the treatment). The same number of patients in both groups, 40% had muscle atrophy and difficulty in walking. At medical checkup, 30% in first group and 20% less patients had discomforts (p > or = 0.05). Regression of subjective sensations in both groups of patients after alpha lipoic acid treatment has been noted. CONCLUSION Alfa lipoic acid is an effective drug in the treatment of diabetic distal sensory-motor neuropathy and its therapeutic effect is more effective in patients with good glycaemic control.