DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2017.v05i01.018

Pages: 91-94

Diabetes is a worldwide epidemic also having high prevalence in Indian population. It leads to peripheral neuropathy affecting somatosensory and auditory system. It slows psychomotor responses, and has cognitive effects on those individuals without proper metabolic control, all of which may affect reaction times. We used visual and auditory reaction time as a tool to early detect neuropathy so that we could prevent further damage to nerves. The aim is to measure and compare visual and auditory reaction time between type-2 diabetics on oral medication and healthy volunteers. Subjects and controls were enrolled based on detailed questionnaire and informed consent was obtained. The mean age of type 2 diabetic subjects was 49.8 years and that of control 44.8 years. Cases and controls were age matched. Inclusion Criteria: AGE 40- 60 Years. Cases: Type 2 Diabetics under control. Control: Healthy subjects without Diabetes, Hypertension, no visual and auditory disturbance. Exclusion Criteria: Alcoholics, hypertension, subjects on insulin, diabetes with complication, subjects with auditory and visual disturbances Human reaction time apparatus was used to measure auditory and visual reaction time. Unpaired `t` test has been used for statistical analysis. Auditory reaction time for both high frequency and low frequency sounds are more in type 2 diabetic patient as compared to normal. Visual reaction time for red and green colour is also more in type 2 diabetic patient as compared to normal control group. This study concludes that type 2 diabetes mellitus leads to neuronal changes which leads to delayed reaction time.