Abstract:

Objective·To investigate the association between ankle-brachial index (ABI) and gastrocnemius muscle spasm in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods·Three hundred patients with T2DM were assigned to the positive group (n=70) and the negative group (n=230) according to the presence of gastrocnemius muscle spasm. Indexes such as blood glucose, blood lipids, blood electrolytes, and ABI were measured and color doppler ultrasound for lower extremity blood vessels was performed. One-way analysis of variance and Chi-square test were conducted. The risk factors for gastrocnemius muscle spasm in patients with T2DM were analyzed using multivariate non-conditional Logistic regression. Results·①Fasting blood glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterin, smoking rate, and incidences of lower extremity arteriosclerosis and lower extremity arterial plaque in patients with T2DM were significantly higher in the positive group than in the negative group (P<0.05). ABI was significantly lower in the positive group than in the negative group. ②The incidence of gastrocnemius muscle spasm was significantly higher in T2DM patients with ABI<0.9 than in those with normal ABI or ABI>1.3. ③Low ABI, hyperglycemia, high cholesterol, high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, smoking, lower extremity arteriosclerosis, and lower extremity arterial plaques were risk factors for gastrocnemius muscle spasm in patients with T2DM. Non painful diabetic neuropathy did not cause an increase in the incidence of gastrocnemius muscle spasm in diabetic patients. Conclusion·Gastrocnemius muscle spasm in patients with T2DM is associated with lower extremity arterial disease, smoking, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia. Once patients with T2DM develop gastrocnemius muscle spasm, ABI examination should be performed to detect lower extremity arterial disease.

Key words: type 2 diabetes mellitus, gastrocnemius muscle spasm, ankle-brachial index