A cross sectional study for the evaluation of autonomic nervous system functioning in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

a b c Type 2 Diabetes mellitus cardiac autonomic neuropathy autonomic function tests Original Article AIM: Prevalence of Diabetes is increasing globally and India is no exception One of the most important complication of diabetes is Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy (CAN)which results from damage to the autonomic nerve fibers that innervate heart and blood vessels The integrity of the autonomic system is studied with help of simple non-invasive cardiovascular reflex tests. Our aim was to study the pattern of autonomic neuropathy in newly detected diabetic patients. MATERIALS AND METHOD: This study involved 100, newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients and 50 normal individuals.A pretested structured proforma was used & then they were subjected to cardiovascular reflex tests like. Resting Heart Rate. Valsalva Maneuver. Heart Rate response to standing. Heart Rate Response to Deep Breathing& Blood Pressure response to standing .Statistical analysis was performed by using 't' test. P < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The resting heart rate was significantly higher and Valsalva ratio& Ratio of heart rate on standing (30:15) were decreased in diabetics as compared to normal. Significant decrease in diastolic blood pressure in standing position was also seen in diadetics as compared to controls. CONCLUSION: In our study newly detected type 2 diabetic patients who did not have any symptoms of autonomic dysfunction, had abnormal cardiovascular reflex tests due to the impairment of parasympathetic and sympathetic systems. But no single test alone is useful for detection of CAN, & for screening diabetic patients.