Protection from neuropathy in extreme duration type 1 diabetes

J Peripher Nerv Syst. 2021 Mar;26(1):49-54. doi: 10.1111/jns.12423. Epub 2020 Dec 4.

Abstract

A proportion of individuals with type 1 diabetes mellitus for more than 50 years (medallists) may be protected from developing nephropathy, retinopathy and neuropathy. Detailed neuropathy phenotyping was undertaken in a cohort of 33 medallists aged 63.7 ± 1.4 years with diabetes for 58.5 ± 0.8 years and HbA1c of 65.9 ± 2.1 mmol/mmol. Medallists had a significantly higher HbA1c (P < .001), lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (P = .005) and higher albumin creatinine excretion ratio (ACR) (P = .01), but a lower total cholesterol (P < .001), triacylglycerols (P = .001), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (P < .001) and higher high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (P = .03), compared to controls. Twenty-four percent of participants were identified as "escapers" without confirmed diabetic neuropathy. They had a lower neuropathy symptom profile (P = .002), vibration perception threshold (P = .02), warm threshold (P = .05), higher peroneal amplitude (P = .005), nerve conduction velocity (P = .03), heart rate variability (P = .001), corneal nerve fibre density (P = 0.001), branch density (P < .001) and length (P = .001), compared to medallists with diabetic neuropathy. Escapers had a shorter duration of diabetes (P = .006), lower alcohol consumption (P = .04), lower total cholesterol (P = .04) and LDL (P = .02), higher eGFR (P = .001) and lower ACR (P < .001). Patients with extreme duration diabetes without diabetic neuropathy have a comparable HbA1c, blood pressure and body mass index, but a more favourable lipid profile and consume less alcohol compared to those with diabetic neuropathy.

Keywords: corneal confocal microscopy; extreme duration diabetes; neuropathy; type 1 diabetes.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Blood Pressure / physiology*
  • Body Mass Index*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / complications
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / metabolism*
  • Diabetic Neuropathies / blood
  • Diabetic Neuropathies / etiology
  • Diabetic Neuropathies / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Glycated Hemoglobin / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Lipoproteins / blood*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Time Factors
  • Triglycerides / blood*

Substances

  • Glycated Hemoglobin A
  • Lipoproteins
  • Triglycerides
  • hemoglobin A1c protein, human