Prevalence of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy among Diabetics Treated at Sedi-Hussein Specialized Clinic

• Osama Muftah Alsheikhi

  Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Benghazi, Benghazi, Libya.

  Author

• Imhemmid Eljazwi

  Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Benghazi, Benghazi, Libya.

  Author

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a common complication often overlooked in individuals with diabetes. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy and its associated comorbidities among diabetic patients attending the Sedi Hussein Specialized Clinic in Benghazi in 2021. The analytical cross-sectional study included diabetic patients referred for consultation during the study period. A multivariate analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Out of 200 diabetic patients, 75 were diagnosed with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, resulting in a prevalence rate of 37.5%. The average age of the patients was 56.8 years, with women making up 57% of the total sample. Furthermore, 80 patients (55.5%) had poorly controlled diabetes. The study identified several factors related to the onset of diabetic peripheral neuropathy, including gender (p = 0.022), occupation (p = 0.004), education level (p = 0.011), hypertension (p = 0.003), smoking (p = 0.036), poor diabetes control (p = 0.001), diabetic retinopathy (p = 0.0003), and dyslipidemia (p = 0.009). Additionally, a significant relationship was found between erectile dysfunction and diabetic peripheral neuropathy in men (p = 0.0002). In conclusion, the prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy among diabetic patients is notably high at 37.5%. This condition is associated with several risk factors, including education level, hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, poor diabetes control, erectile dysfunction, and diabetic retinopathy. Identifying these risk factors is crucial for improving patient care and recognizing individuals at risk.

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Copyright (c) 2025 Osama Muftah Alsheikhi, Imhemmid Eljazwi (Author)

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