Background: Reaction time, which is a reliable indicator of attention and fine motor skills, was found to be slowed in diabetes mellitus. It is often overlooked and underestimated element in medical fitness test for professionals highly dependent on motor skills, such as drivers, pilots, and doctors. Many of them may be diabetic. Limited reports are available from India on the effect of type 2 diabetes mellitus on reaction time. Thus, this study was undertaken to determine the effect of type 2 diabetes mellitus on reaction time.
Aims & Objective: To compare audiovisual reaction time of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus to that of normal subjects.
Materials and Methods: We measured audiovisual reaction times of 50 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and compared them with those of 50 healthy, age-matched subjects that formed control group.
Results: Audiovisual reaction times of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were significantly higher as compared to those of normal subjects (control group).
Conclusion: Audiovisual reaction time may prove a simple and valuable method for assessing severity of neurological derangement and effectiveness of treatment in type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Key words: Auditory Reaction Time; Visual Reaction Time; Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus; Reaction Time; Medical Fitness Test
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