Optimal Blood Glucose Control During 18 Years Preserves Peripheral Nerve Function in Patients With 30 Years’ Duration of Type 1 Diabetes

Optimal Blood Glucose Control During 18 Years Preserves Peripheral Nerve Function in Patients With 30 Years’ Duration of Type 1 Diabetes Jakob R. Larsen , MD 1 2 , Hans Sjoholm , MD, PHD 3 , Kristian F. Hanssen , MD, PHD 1 4 , Leiv Sandvik , PHD 5 , Tore J. Berg , MD, PHD 1 4 and Knut Dahl-Jorgensen 1 2 1 Diabetes Research Center, Aker and Ulleval University Hospitals, Oslo, Norway 2 Pediatrics Department, Ulleval University Hospital, Oslo, Norway 3 Neurophysiology Department, Ulleval University Hospital, Oslo, Norway 4 Endocrinology Department, Aker University Hospital, Oslo, Norway 5 Center for Clinical Research, Ulleval University Hospital, Oslo, Norway Address correspondence and reprint requests to Jakob R. Larsen, MD, Departement of Pediatrics, Aker and Ullevaal Diabetes Research Center, Ullevaal University Hospital, Oslo, Norway 0407. E-mail: j.r.larsen{at}ioks.uio.no Abstract OBJECTIVE —To assess the association between 18 years of mean HbA 1c and nerve conduction parameters of the lower limb in patients with type 1 diabetes of 30 years’ duration. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS —HbA 1c has been examined prospectively since 1982 in a group of 39 patients with type 1 diabetes. Mean age at baseline was 25 years (range 18–40) with 12 years’ disease duration. The mean age at diagnosis of diabetes was 12.5 years. Nerve function of lower limbs was assessed at baseline, after 8 years, and after 18 years. RESULTS —A total of 23 men and 16 women were studied. Mean age was 43 years. Mean HbA 1c was 8.2% (range 6.6–11.3) during 18-year follow-up. Nerve conduction velocity (NCV) and nerve action potential amplitude (NAPA) at the last examination were significantly associated with mean HbA 1c ( P < 0. 05). From 1982 to 1999, there was a significant reduction in nerve function in patients with mean HbA 1c ≥8.4% (highest tertile). For example, the mean NCV in the tibial nerve was reduced from 47 to 31 m/s ( P < 0.01). The number of nerves with NCV ( P < 0.01) and NAPA ( P = 0.01) reduced to below the reference level in each patient was also significantly associated to mean HbA 1c . No significant associations were found between nerve function parameters, sex, disease duration, blood pressure, serum cholesterol, microalbuminuria, or smoking. CONCLUSIONS —The present study shows that mean HbA 1c is a strong predictor of nerve function. Mean HbA 1c