Cold Exposure Exacerbates the Development of Diabetic Polyneuropathy in the Rat

Figure 3

Foot temperature measurements. Graphs of foot temperature at room temperature and reduction in foot temperature during environmental exposure (𝑛=7 each control group, 𝑛=6 each diabetic group). (a) Foot temperature was higher in diabetic rats, in both the room temperature and cold exposed groups, when measured at room temperature. (b) During environmental exposure, animals in the cold exposed groups (both nondiabetic controls and diabetics) had the greatest decrease in foot temperature. Diabetic animals (both room temperature and cold exposed) had a greater change in foot temperature compared to nondiabetic controls; there was also a trend for the diabetic animals exposed to a cold environment to have the greatest decrease in foot temperature (𝑃=.089). Mean ± SEM. ^∗∗𝑃<.001 versus nondiabetic controls,^∗𝑃=.016 versus nondiabetic controls, ^$𝑃<.001 versus room temperature.

(a)

(b)