Zeitschrift für Diabetes und klinische Praxis

Abstrakt

Changes in Mechanical Skin Properties as a Compensatory Mechanism of Sensory Impairment in Diabetes Patients

Zippenfennig C, Drechsel TJ, Milani TL, Monteiro RL, Sacco Isabel CN

Aim: We hypothesized, that there is no relationship between the mechanical skin properties and vibration perception thresholds (VPT) in individuals with (DPN) and without(DM) diabetic neuropathy.

Methods: 33 healthy controls (CG), 20 DM and 13 DPNparticipated in this cross-sectional study. VPTs (30Hz, 200Hz), skin hardness and skinthickness were measured at the heel and first metatarsal head.

Results: General linear models showed no effects of mechanical skin properties on VPTs at either frequency or location. DPN showed significantly higher VPTs compared to DM and CG at both frequencies and locations. Skin was harder in DPN compared to CG (heel). No differences were observed in skin thickness. VPTs at 30Hz correlated negatively with skin hardness for DPN, and with skin thickness for DM.

Conclusion: Mechanical skin properties change as a compensatory mechanism to sensitivity loss and should be considered in future studies.