Abstract

IS DIABETES AN AUTONOMIC DISORDER?

M. El Minaoui*, S. Jbira, S. Aboudrar, A. Chraibi, S. Milouk, T. Dakka and H. Benjelloun

Abstract

Dysfunction of the cardiac Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) in the diabetic heart is involved in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, and in the development of degenerative complications of diabetes. Objectives of the study: Compare autonomic profile of diabetic patients and asymptomatic healthy subjects and detect the cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) in patients with diabetes. Patients and methods: 66 subjects with type 2 diabetes were selected for the study. The following tests were carried out: deep breathing (DB), the isometric contraction or hand grip (HG) 3 minutes and mental stress test. The results were compared to those of a control group which age and sex were matched using the Student t test (p < 0, 005 as significant). Results: The groups were subdivided as follows: a group of 66 diabetic patients (including 68% women) average age was 53.9 years ± 9,6 and a group of 60 control subjects, average age was 53,1 ± 8,9 years. Basic heart rate in diabetics was 77,9 ± 12,0 beats/ min vs 65,9 ± 8,7 beats / min in control subjects (p

Keywords: Vagal Activity, Sympathetic Activity, Mellitus Diabetes, Deep Breathing, Autonomic Nervous System.