Métodos utilizados no diagnóstico de neuropatia diabética: uma revisão integrativa.

Abstract

Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic disorder of multiple aetiology characterized by chronic hyperglycemia due to deficiency in insulin secretion and / or the ability of this to exercise its function. The relevance of this study is considering the need of nursing knowledge about major diagnostic methods to diabetic neuropathy, to ensure early detection and diagnosis through the nursing minimize complications in the lower extremities of these carriers. This study had the main objective to know the methods used for the diagnosis of neuropathy in patients with diabetes mellitus. The study was developed through an integrative literature review, the databases PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, BDENF, LILACS and IBECS between the months of August and September 2016. The initial sample of 1354 publications was obtained by association descriptors, and the selection of articles involving the theme, in Portuguese, English and Spanish, with no time limit and excluding those involving animals, the final sample of 36 articles. The process resulted in identification of several diagnostic methods of diabetic neuropathy, the most prevalent being the test monofilament Semmes-Weinstein, and also observed neuropathic pain as the primary clinical manifestation of this complication. These findings reveal the importance of knowledge of such methods by nurses so that they can associate with the testing along with the nursing process. This combination becomes critical to directing the care and development of protocols for assistance with a view to preventinginjuries.