The sample comprised 22 men and 8 women ranging in age
from 55 to 91 years (table 1). The mean duration of diabetes
standard deviation for the participants was 12.38.4 years
(range, 1–29y). Four participants controlled their diabetes by
diet alone, 25 were currently taking oral hypoglycemic medications,
and 3 were taking insulin. The blood sugar levels of the
participants were measured by using the hemoglobin A1c (Hb
A1c) test, which provides an indication of the average amount
of glucose in the bloodstream in the previous 3 months, and the
fructosamine test, which provides an indication of the average
amount of glucose in the bloodstream in the previous 2 to 3
weeks. Hb A1c has a normal range of 4.2% to 7.4%, whereas
the fructosamine test has a normal range of 190 to 295mol/L.
The participants with DPN were reasonably well controlled
with a mean Hb A1c of 7.6%1.3% and a mean fructosamine
of 30665mol/L. Despite adequate control of blood sugar
levels, 7 participants had histories of plantar neuropathic ulceration
and 4 had plantar ulcers at the time of testing.
All participants with DPN reported numbness in their legs or
feet, and neuropathy had previously been detected clinically by
vibration perception threshold (VPT) measurements. VPT at
the apex of the hallux was determined with a biothesiometer,