The Association of Diabetic Microvascular and Macrovascular Disease with Cutaneous Circulation in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Aims: To study the impact of diabetic neuropathy, both peripheral sensorimotor (DPN) and cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN), on transcutaneous oxygen tension (TcPO) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: A total of 163 participants were recruited; 100 with T2DM and 63 healthy individuals. Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) was defined as ankle-brachial index (ABI) values ≤0.90. Diagnosis of DPN was based on neuropathy symptom score and neuropathy disability score (NDS), while diagnosis of CAN on the battery of the cardiovascular autonomic function tests. TcPO was measured using a TCM30 system.

Results: Patients with T2DM had lower TcPO levels when compared with healthy individuals. Among the diabetic cohort, those who had either PAD, DPN or CAN had significantly lower TcPO values than participants without these complications. Multivariate linear regression analysis, after controlling for diabetes duration, diastolic blood pressure, HbA1c, albumin to creatinine ratio and CAN score, demonstrated that TcPO levels were significantly and independently associated with current smoking (p = 0.013), ABI (p = 0.003), and NDS (p = 0.013).

Conclusion: Presence of DPN is independently associated with impaired cutaneous perfusion. Low TcPO in subjects with DPN may contribute to delay in healing of diabetic foot ulcers, irrespectively of PAD.