Reaction time is a reliable indicator of processing of sensory stimulus by central nervous system and it’s execution in the form of a motor response. There are very few studies showing the effects of diabetes on the processing of signals and also on peripheral nerves. Keeping this in mind, the present study was planned .This study was conducted on 50 subjects. Twenty –five were patients of Diabetes Mellitus of more than 5 years duration and between 30-50 years of age who presented to the Endocrinology unit of a tertiary care teaching hospital. The controls (n= 25) were non –diabetic but age matched. After taking written consent from all the subjects the procedure was explained to them .The visual reaction time was recorded using Digital Display Response Time Apparatus (Model no. 608 Medicaid :Ambala ). Three visual stimuli (red, green, yellow )were recorded .The mean and standard deviation were computed and comparison was done using unpaired t- test. There was marked increase in visual reaction time values (p=0.000) in patients .These findings reveal that reaction time is delayed in Diabetes Mellitus as it affects the nerve conduction velocity , information processing , speed, working memory . Our study highlights that reaction time measurement can be taken as a non-invasive, low cost indicator of early nerve damage especially without clinical neuropathy.
