Handgrip strength in patients with type 2 diabetes correlates with diabetic polyneuropathy. A single-center, retrospective observational study in Japanese patients

Abstract

Nerve conduction studies (NCS) are the standard method for diagnosing diabetic polyneuropathy. Because a clear association between handgrip strength and diabetic neuropathy can serve as a screening tool, the present study evaluated the association between handgrip strength and NCS and diabetes-related complications. A total of 436 patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) who were admitted to our hospital between April 1, 2018 and March 31, 2023, and evaluated using Baba’s diabetic neuropathy classification (BDC) were included. The participants were grouped by sex using the grip strength tertile method to assess correlations with the prevalence of diabetic microvascular complications in the high-handgrip group (HG), middle-handgrip group (MG), and low-handgrip group (LG). The percentage of BDC-0 was 65% in the HG, 54% in the MG, and 36% in the LG. Furthermore, none of the participants in the HG had BDC-3/4, whereas 4% in the MG and 15% in the LG had BDC-3/4. The morbidity progression of diabetic neuropathy was seen in the order of LG, MG, and HG (p < 0.001). Patients with T2D and advanced diabetic neuropathy had decreased handgrip strength. Early evaluation of BDC and other NCS should be considered if decreased handgrip strength is evident.