Mechanism of pain in diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Effect of glucose on pain perception in humans

Gerald K. Morley, Arshag D. Mooradian, Allen S. Levine, John E. Morley

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

188 Scopus citations

Abstract

Animal studies have suggested an altered response to opiate agonists and antagonists as well as an altered pain threshold in diabetic animals. In the studies reported herein, a 50 g glucose infusion in normal subjects resulted in a significant decrease in both the threshold level of pain and the maximal level of pain tolerated, as measured by responses to electrical pain induced by a Grass stimulator. In addition, patients with diabetes mellitus were hyperalgesic when compared with normal subjects. It is concluded that elevated glucose levels and/or rapid fluxes in glucose levels result in a decrease in pain tolerance. These findings have potential clinical implications in the pathophysiology and management of painful diabetic neuropathy and the use of narcotic agents in diabetes mellitus.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)79-82
Number of pages4
JournalThe American Journal of Medicine
Volume77
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1984

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
From the Neuroendocrine Research Laboratory and Department of Neurology and Medicine, Minneapolis Veterans Administration Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and the Division of Endocrinology and Departments of Medicine, Neurology, and Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. This work was supported in part by the American Diabetes Association. Requests for reprints should be adrkessed to Dr. John E. Mcrley, Neuroendocrine Research Laboratory, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55417. Manuscript accepted January 24, 1984.

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