Vibrotactile sense might improve over time in paediatric subjects with type 1 diabetes—A mid‐term follow‐up using multifrequency vibrometry

• Published in: Acta Paediatrica Vol. 111; no. 2; pp. 411 - 417
• Main Authors: Ising, Erik, Ekman, Linnéa, Elding Larsson, Helena, Dahlin, Lars B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Norway Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.02.2022
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescents; Child; Children; Clinical Medicine; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus (insulin dependent); Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1; Diabetic Neuropathies; Endocrinology and Diabetes; Endokrinologi och diabetes; Feet; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Klinisk medicin; Medical and Health Sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Metatarsus; neuropathy; Pediatrics; Peripheral neuropathy; Sensory Thresholds; Statistical analysis; Temporal perception; Touch; type 1 diabetes; Vibration; vibration perception threshold; vibrotactile sense; neuropathy; type 1 diabetes; vibrotactile sense; vibration perception threshold
• ISSN: 0803-5253; 1651-2227; 1651-2227
• DOI: 10.1111/apa.16124

Aim Impaired vibrotactile sense, mirroring diabetic peripheral neuropathy, is present among children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. This study aims to re‐examine the vibrotactile sense of paediatric type 1 diabetes subjects in order to evaluate any alterations in the vibrotactile sense over time. Methods A VibroSense Meter I device was used to determine the vibrotactile perception thresholds (VPTs) for seven frequencies from the pulp of index and little fingers and for five frequencies from metatarsal heads one and five on the sole of the foot, of 37 children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes, previously examined in a larger cohort. Subjects were followed up after a median time of 30 months. Z‐scores of VPTs were calculated using previously collected normative data. Results Vibrotactile perception thresholds improved over time at low frequencies (especially 16 Hz) on the foot, while not being statistically significant different on the rest of the frequencies, either on hand or foot. VPTs were not correlated with HbA1c. Conclusion A mid‐term follow‐up of vibrotactile sense in paediatric subjects with type 1 diabetes shows a conceivable normalization of previously impaired vibrotactile sense on some frequencies on the foot, indicating that vibrotactile sense might fluctuate over time.