Background Older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) have high incidence of falls. The aim of this study was to compare sensorimotor functions, balance, mobility, fear of falling, and fall history in older people with DM (with and without neuropathy) and non-diabetic healthy controls. Methods We enrolled 153 participants aged 50–70 years: 51 people with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (D-PN), 52 with diabetes without neuropathy (D-noPN), and 50 healthy controls (HC). Participants completed a fear of falling assessment and detailed test battery comprising sensorimotor functions, lower limb strength, contrast vision, reaction time, balance, and mobility from which a composite physiological fall risk score (PFRS) was derived. In addition, a fall history of the past 3 months was recorded. Results Post hoc comparisons of ANOVA test revealed the D-PN had significant deficits than the other two groups in tests of lower limb sensation, knee extension strength, reaction time, postural sway, one leg standing, sit-to-stand and the timed up and go test. The D-PN had the highest fear of falling (30.18 ± 6.75) and the highest PFRS (1.68 ± 1.13). PFRS for the D-noPN (0.74 ± 0.80) was intermediate between HC (0.49 ± 0.96) and DP-N groups. Thirty-four D-PN participants (66.7%), 19 D-noPN participants (36.5%), and 7 HC (14.0%) reported one or more falls in the past 3 months (Chi 2 test for trend = 28.1, df = 2, p < 0.001). Conclusions Older people with diabetic neuropathy have impaired sensorimotor function, balance, mobility, and associated increased fear of falling and fall rates. This population may benefit from fall risk assessments involving the above measures, and subsequent interventions targeted to deficits amenable to correction.

中文翻译：

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患有糖尿病周围神经病变的老年人的感觉运动障碍、姿势不稳和跌倒风险

背景 患有 2 型糖尿病 (DM) 的老年人跌倒的发生率很高。本研究的目的是比较患有 DM（有或没有神经病变）和非糖尿病健康对照的老年人的感觉运动功能、平衡、活动能力、跌倒恐惧和跌倒史。方法 我们招募了 153 名 50-70 岁的参与者：51 名患有糖尿病周围神经病变 (D-PN) 的人，52 名患有无神经病变的糖尿病 (D-noPN) 和 50 名健康对照 (HC)。参与者完成了跌倒恐惧评估和详细的测试组合，包括感觉运动功能、下肢力量、对比视力、反应时间、平衡和活动能力，从中得出复合生理跌倒风险评分 (PFRS)。此外，还记录了过去 3 个月的跌倒史。结果 ANOVA检验的事后比较显示，D-PN在下肢感觉、伸膝力量、反应时间、姿势摇摆、单腿站立、坐立和计时方面的测试中，D-PN明显低于其他两组。并去测试。D-PN 对跌倒的恐惧最高 (30.18 ± 6.75) 和最高的 PFRS (1.68 ± 1.13)。D-noPN (0.74 ± 0.80) 的 PFRS 介于 HC (0.49 ± 0.96) 和 DP-N 组之间。34 名 D-PN 参与者 (66.7%)、19 名 D-noPN 参与者 (36.5%) 和 7 名 HC (14.0%) 在过去 3 个月内报告了一次或多次跌倒（趋势的 Chi 2 检验 = 28.1，df = 2, p < 0.001)。结论 患有糖尿病神经病变的老年人的感觉运动功能、平衡、活动能力受损，并且相关的跌倒恐惧和跌倒率增加。