Impact of Duration of Diabetes and HbA1c on Attention, Executive Function and Visual Reaction Time in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients

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Abstract (English)

Abstract
Aim: The aim of the present study was to correlate duration of disease with attention, executive function and
visual reaction time in type 2 diabetes patients and to correlate HbA1c with attention, executive function and
visual reaction time in type 2 diabetes patients.
Methods: This was a retrospective study done on 100 type 2 diabetes mellitus subjects of either sex under the age
group of 40-60 years in the Department of Physiology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Bhagalpur, Bihar,
India . The subjects who are able to understand English were enrolled for the study. Written informed consent
was taken and each subject was explained about the whole procedure and objective of the study.
Results: The mean age and BMI of the patients were 58.06±4.48 and 24.56+1.94 respectively. There were 55
male and 45 females in the present study. Duration of disease was positively correlated (r=0.34) with score of
Digit Vigilance Test and p value statistically significant (0.016). A positive correlation (r=0.24) was also seen
with Visual Reaction time and p value statistically significant (0.046). Stroop test score also shows a positive
correlation (r=0.16) but without any statistical significance. HbA1c was positively correlated(r=0.56) with the
score of Digit Vigilance Test and p value statistically significant (0.01). A positive correlation (r=0.36) was also
seen with Visual Reaction time and p value statistically significant (0.01). Stroop test score also shows a positive
correlation (r=0.16) but without any statistical significance.
Conclusion: With increase in duration of the disease and poor glycemic control, sustained attention and executive
functions are declining. Also there is an increase in visual reaction time. Diabetes is a disease which requires
proper self-care and monitoring. The decline in cognitive functions can affect their activities like glucose
monitoring, medications or insulin injection patterns, diet and exercise timing.