Diabetes: Sweat Response and Heart Rate Variability During Electrical Stimulation in Controls and People With Diabetes

Twelve subjects with type II diabetes and 13 control subjects participated in a study to examine whether electrical stimulation might be used as a predictive tool for assessing autonomic nervous system dysfunction in people with diabetes. Subjects ranged in age from 32 to 67 years. Inclusion criteria were by diagnosis of type II diabetes and male. Exclusion criteria were uncontrolled blood pressure (140/90 mmHg), beta blocking medication, and alpha antagonists. The percent change in the local sweat response to electrical stimulation was measured on the skin over the distal quadriceps. Electrodes were placed 15 cm apart and a sweat capsule was placed between the electrodes. Subjects were tested in a thermally neutral environment and a globally heated environment. Heart rate variability (HRV) was measured with continuous electrocardiogram. Mean control HRV was 3.2 bpm and people with diabetes had a mean HR of 1.9 bpm. The results of the exper-