Vestibular dysfunction in people with diabetes is predicted by clinical measures of peripheral neuropathy and associated with imbalance and low physical activity
Authors' conclusion
Clinical measures of PN can provide rationale for vestibular testing as those with DM and abnormal utricle function have imbalance and low physical activity.
Study context
- Population
- People with diabetes mellitus (DM) with or without peripheral neuropathy, and controls
- Participants
- 68 people
- Exposure
- DM with peripheral neuropathy (PN) vs DM without PN vs controls
- Outcome
- Otolith (utricle and saccule) function by cervical and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) testing: interamplitude and absent response counts
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Prediction of abnormal utricle and saccule function in DM
- Worse PN predicted abnormal utricle and saccule function (OR range)
- 1.1 ≤ OR ≤ 1.7, p ≤ 0.05
- Utricle function worst and more frequently absent in DMPN
- p ≤ 0.04
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
- Balance and physical activity worse in those with absent utricle responses
- P ≤ 0.03
- Not worse in those with absent saccule responses
Original publication
Vestibular dysfunction in people with diabetes is predicted by clinical measures of peripheral neuropathy and associated with imbalance and low physical activity. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. Published 15 February 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →