The purpose of this study is to analyze the characteristics of urinary disturbances in diabetics, their impact on patient's life quality, and the influence of clinical and biological parameters on urinary symptoms.

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Endocrinology department, on a group of 40 patients with type 1 or 2 diabetes. The clinical data included: weight, height and body mass index (BMI). The following laboratory data were obtained: fasting blood sugar, postprandial glycemia and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA_1c). Urinary Symptom Profile (USP) questionnaire was used to evaluate urinary disturbances and their impact on patient's life quality was assessed by Ditrovie scale.

Thirty-six patients had urinary disturbances (90%). The average age was 56 years with a sex-ratio (M/F) of 0.94. Most patients had type 2 diabetes (80%) and degenerative complications were noted in 77.1% of cases. The mean BMI was 26kg/m² and 28.6% of the patients were obese. The mean fasting glucose was 11.16mmol, mean postprandial 14.35mmol and 85.7% of patients had HbA_1C>6. The most common urinary symptoms were pollakiuria (60%). The mean USP sub-score was 1.68 for urinary stress incontinence, 8.25 for bladder overactivity and 1.31 for dysuria An impaired quality of life was observed in patients who had urinary disturbances with a mean Ditrovie score of 2.3. The USP sub-score of bladder overactivity was positively correlated with age (P=0.01, r=0.4) and the Ditrovie score was positively correlated with fasting blood sugar (P=0.001, r=0.5). Only 6 patients were followed in physical medicine and rehabilitation. All of them had an obstructive syndrome and an urodynamic assessment was performed in one patient.

Despite the impact of urinary disturbances on diabetic patients’ life quality, they are still little known among diabetologists. Their clinical diversity requires urodynamic study. Multidisciplinary work would be required, especially on this subject in collaboration with diabetologists.