| Diabetes

A New Methodology for Diabetic Neuropathy

The Predictive Power of Grip Force

Research published in the journal Human Movement Science examined whether those with diabetes, with or without neuropathy, would grip objects differently than healthy subjects. Those results were compared to patients with multiple sclerosis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and Parkinson’s. Highlights of findings include:

  • On a static manipulation task, those with type 2 diabetes mellitus showed impaired grip force control; on a dynamic manipulation task, those with type 2 diabetes mellitus showed no impairment
  • Neuropathy didn’t affect grip force control
  • Subclinical neuropathy signs were evident in those with diabetes but no diagnosis of neuropathy

The study concluded that, “individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus not diagnosed with DPN, already show mild impairments in the nervous system that could affect grip force control and that could be one of the first signs of neuropathy caused by the diabetes.”

 

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