Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA, Spearman's correlation, and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests.
Results: Participants (n= 60) were aged 61± 10.5 years, 57% female, diagnosed with diabetes and at least one of four associated hand disorders. Presentations of carpal tunnel syndrome, or past release (n= 27, 45%) and trigger finger (n= 24, 40%) were common. Tactile sensation was reduced during the two-year period (median, range; 30 months, 25–40 months). Initial median (inter-quartile range) scores for the dominant hand of 25.5 (22–28.5) were reduced to 23 (21.5–27). This sensory loss was weakly associated with HbA1c (r= 0.30, p= 0.05) and occurred predominantly in participants with trigger finger (p= 0.05).
Conclusions: Light touch perception was reduced in longstanding diabetic hand syndromes. Tactile abnormalities that were detected by clinical examination progressed during a two year period and were related to metabolic control and musculoskeletal diagnosis.