Effect of artificial pancreas treatment on peripheral nerve function in diabetes.

To determine whether the complete correction of hyperglycemia of diabetes can rapidly improve abnormal peripheral nerve function, eight hyperglycemic insulin-requiring diabetics underwent 3 days of glucose control with an artificial endocrine pancreas, the BIOSTATOR Glucose Controller. Comparison of neurologic assessment before and after BIOSTATOR treatment showed improvement only in ulnar sensory conduction velocity (+ 3.2 +/- 1.4 meters per second, p less than 0.032) and no significant changes in 24 other nerve conduction measurements, computer-assisted examination, and scored neurologic assessment. Any significant beneficial effect on nerve function resulting from correction of hyperglycemia probably requires more than 3 days to be manifested.