Blood glycated hemoglobin concentration is correlated with risk of falls and gait and posture parameters in diabetic patients

Peripheral neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes that can lead to balance and gait alterations, increasing the risk of falls among diabetic patients. This study explores whether blood glycated hemoglobin is associated with gait and postural abnormalities and the risk of falls in diabetic patients. Methods: Gait and postural parameters were assessed using a wearable inertial sensor placed in the lumbar region of the participants, while risk of falls was determined using the Tinetti Scale. Glycaemic control was evaluated by blood glycated haemoglobin concentration. Results: Spearman's rank correlation test showed that glycated haemoglobin was correlated with gait and postural parameters such as swing duration (p=0.023), the sway path along the antero-posterior axis during tests carried out with the eyes opened and feet in tandem (p=0.043), the sway path along the antero-posterior axis during tests performed with the eyes opened and feet closed together (p=0.034), and the sway area during tests performed with the eyes closed and feet in tandem (p=0.043). Moreover, higher levels of glycated haemoglobin in blood were associated with a higher risk of falls in diabetic patients (p=0.035). Conclusions: These results show associations between blood glycated haemoglobin and gait and postural parameters and the risk of falls in diabetic patients, underscoring the importance of glycaemic control to prevent neuropathic complications and their consequences in diabetes mellitus.