Vasculopathy associated with peripheral neuropathy in gait parameters of diabetic people

Abstract Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a common complication of diabetes mellitus when glycemic levels are poorly controlled. Sometimes DPN is accompanied by vasculopathy (DPV), which can worsen the clinical prognosis. The aim of this study was to analyze the gait parameters of nondiabetic individuals and diabetic individuals with DPN with or without DPV. METHOD The study included 68 individuals (50 to 65 years old) divided into three groups: people without diabetes mellitus (n = 33), diabetic patients with DPN (n = 18), and diabetic patients with both DPN and DVP (n = 17). The participants underwent a gait evaluation using electronic baropodometry to obtain the single and double support, velocity, and pressure-time integral. RESULTS The pressure-time integral, velocity, and single support variables were lower, and the double support and double support/single support ratio were higher in the diabetic neuropathy and vasculopathy group. The velocity was lower the greater the degree of impairment of the diabetic foot. Some correlations were identified with velocity. CONCLUSION In diabetic individuals, there was a significant worsening of the gait parameters analyzed according to increasing degree of clinical impairment.