Abstract
The aim of this study was to clarify the characteristics of numbness and the relationship between numbness and skin sensation in patients with numbness due to diabetic peripheral neuropathy Participants comprised 20 diabetic outpatients who had numbness, were right-handed, ≥65 years old, and consented to participate. Patients were asked about characteristics of numbness, and then skin sensation of the hand/foot was measured.
All 20 patients reported numbness in the feet, and 8 reported numbness in the hands. The intensity of numbness was significantly more severe in the feet than in the hands (p ＜0.01). This result supports the fact that numbness due to diabetes is progressive and tends to spread gradually from the feet to the hands. Patients were divided into those with hand numbness (n＝8) and those without (n＝12). Touch/pressure sensitivity in the ring finger (fourth finger) was significantly lower in patients with hand numbness than in those without (p ＜0.05). These results suggest that progression of numbness may be predictable.In addition, sensitivity of the thenar eminence to hot temperature was significantly higher in patients with hand numbness than in those without (p ＜0.05).
Therefore, because such patients tend to be sensitive to heat, nurses should take care when managing temperature exposures (e.g., hot packs or baths).
