BACKGROUND: It has shown that abnormality of peripheral nerve conduction velocity during onset of diabetes mellitus is not related to age and sex, but to symptoms, illness course and level of fasting blood glucose. OBJECTIVE: To measure correlation of abnormality of peripheral nerve conduction velocity with various illness courses, symptoms and levels of fasting blood glucose of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. DESIGN: Case analysis. SETTING: Department of Neurology, Central People’s Hospital of Huizhou. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 128 patients who were diagnosed as type 2 diabetes mellitus were selected from Central People’s Hospital of Huizhou from September 2001 to October 2005. There were 75 males and 53 females aged 32-83 years and the illness course ranged from 1 month to 20 years. METHODS: All 128 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus received neuro-electrophysiological study and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed to measure peripheral nerve conduction velocity and fasting blood glucose so as to investigate the correlation of peripheral nerve conduction velocity with clinical symptoms, illness course and levels of fasting blood glucose. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Correlation of peripheral nerve conduction velocity with clinical symptoms, illness course and levels of fasting blood glucose. RESULTS: All 128 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were involved in the final analysis. ① Among 128 patients, 114 patients had abnormality of peripheral nerve conduction velocity; 110 patients had clinical symptoms, including 102 patients having abnormality of peripheral nerve conduction velocity; 18 patients did not have clinical symptoms, including 12 patients having abnormality of peripheral nerve conduction velocity. There were significant differences between them (χ 2=8.275, P =0.04). ② Among 128 patients, illness course of 75 patients was equal to or less than 5 years, including 27 patients having abnormality of peripheral nerve conduction velocity; illness course of 53 patients was more than 5 years, including 35 patients having abnormality of peripheral nerve conduction velocity. There were significant differences between them (χ 2=11.469, P =0.003). ③ Among 128 patients, levels of fasting blood glucose of 75 patients was equal to or lower than 11 mmol/L, including 41 patients having abnormality of peripheral nerve conduction velocity; levels of fasting blood glucose of 53 patients was higher than 11 mmol/L, including 38 patients having abnormality of peripheral nerve conduction velocity. There were significant differences between them (χ 2=4.023, P =0.134). CONCLUSION: ① Abnormality of peripheral nerve conduction velocity of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus is related to illness courses and clinical symptoms. The longer the illness course is, the severer the abnormality of peripheral nerve conduction velocity is. Abnormality of peripheral nerve conduction velocity always occurs on patients who have clinical symptoms. ② Abnormality of peripheral nerve conduction velocity is not related to levels of fasting blood glucose. BACKGROUND: It has shown that abnormality of peripheral nerve conduction velocity during onset of diabetes mellitus is not related to age and sex, but to symptoms, illness course and level of fasting blood glucose. OBJECTIVE: To measure correlation of abnormality of peripheral nerve conduction velocity with various illness courses, symptoms and levels of fasting blood glucose of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. DESIGN: Case analysis. SETTING: Department of Neurology, Central People’s Hospital of Huizhou. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 128 patients who were diagnosed as type 2 diabetes mellitus were selected from Central People’s Hospital of Huizhou from September 2001 to October 2005. There were 75 males and 53 females aged 32-83 years and the illness course ranged from 1 month to 20 years. METHODS: All 128 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus received neuro-electrophysiological study and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed to measure peripheral nerve conduction veloci ty and fasting blood glucose as as to to investigate the correlation of peripheral nerve conduction velocity with clinical symptoms, illness course and levels of fasting blood glucose. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Correlation of peripheral nerve conduction velocity with clinical symptoms, illness course and levels of fasting blood All 128 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were involved in the final analysis. ① Among 128 patients, 114 patients had abnormality of peripheral nerve conduction velocity; 110 patients had clinical symptoms, including 102 patients with abnormality of peripheral nerve conduction velocity ; 18 patients did not have clinical symptoms, including 12 patients having abnormality of peripheral nerve conduction velocity. There were significant differences between them (χ 2 = 8.275, P = 0.04). ② Among 128 patients, illness course of 75 patients was equal to or less than 5 years, including 27 patients having abnormality of peripheral nerve conduction vel ocityThere was a significant difference between them (χ 2 = 11.469, P = 0.003). ③ Among 128 patients, levels of fasting blood glucose of 75 patients was equal to or lower than 11 mmol / L, including 41 patients having abnormality of peripheral nerve conduction velocity; levels of fasting blood glucose of 53 patients was higher than 11 mmol / L, including 38 patients having abnormality of peripheral nerve conduction There was a significant difference between them (χ 2 = 4.023, P = 0.134). CONCLUSION: ① Abnormality of peripheral nerve conduction velocity of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus is related to illness courses and clinical symptoms. The longer the illness course is is , the severer the abnormality of peripheral nerve conduction velocity is. Abnormality of peripheral nerve conduction velocity always occurs on patients who have clinical sympto ms. ② Abnormality of peripheral nerve conduction velocity is not related to levels of fasting blood glucose.