Diseases and symptoms associated with changes in postural balance in diabetics: an integrating literature review

ABSTRACT Purpose: to verify the diseases and symptoms associated with changes in postural balance in middle-aged and elderly individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: an integrative review was performed using the following descriptors: "Dizziness," "Vertigo," "Vestibular Diseases," "Labyrinth Diseases," and "Type 2, Diabetes Mellitus" in English and in Portuguese in databases such as PubMed, SciELO, LILACS, Web of Science, and Scopus. Observational articles involving individuals aged 40 years or more with type 2 diabetes mellitus and with alteration in postural balance having presented at least one disease or symptom associated with that alteration were selected. Results: the search yielded 1,209 articles, but only five met the eligibility criteria. Individuals in the selected studies had systemic arterial hypertension, high body mass index, peripheral neuropathy, and postural instability when walking on irregular surfaces and in the dark, when looking at moving objects, moving the head quickly and changing posture, resulting in stumbling when walking, and falls. The articles were classified as IIb and III, according to the levels of evidence of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association. Conclusion: the subjects in the studied articles presented cardiovascular alterations, peripheral neuropathy, vestibular symptoms, difficulties in tasks/movements in challenging contexts, and falls.