Fuzzy expert system for diagnosing diabetic neuropathy

Table 1 The degree of importance of the diagnostic parameters for diagnosing diabetic neuropathy from the specialists’ perspectives

Degree of importance	Unimportant (1)	Less important (2)	Relatively important (3)	Important (4)	Very important (5)	Mean ± SD
Duration of diabetes	0	0	0	1 (12.5%)	7 (87.5%)	4.88 ± 0.35
Symptom assessment based on MNSI	0	0	1 (12.5%)	5 (62.5%)	2 (25%)	4.13 ± 0.64
Sign examination based on MNSI	0	0	0	5 (62.5%)	3 (37.5%)	4.38 ± 0.51
HbA1c	0	0	1 (12.5%)	2 (25%)	5 (62.5%)	4.50 ± 0.75
CBC	1 (12.5%)	3 (37.5%)	4 (50%)	0	0	2.38 ± 0.74
FBS	0	0	0	6 (75%)	2 (25%)	4.25 ± 046
ESR	1 (12.5%)	3 (37.5%)	3 (37.5%)	1 (12.5%)	0	2.52 ± 092
Oral GTT	1 (12.5%)	4 (50%)	1 (12.5%)	2 (25%)	0	2.50 ± 1.06
Albuminuria	0	1 (12.5%)	1 (12.5%)	4 (50%)	2 (25%)	3.88 ± 0.99
TSH	2 (25%)	1 (12.5%)	3 (37.5%)	2 (25%)	0	2.63 ± 1.18
B12 Vitamin	2 (25%)	1 (12.5%)	1 (12.5%)	4 (50%)	0	2.88 ± 1.35
BUN	1 (12.5%)	3 (37.5%)	3 (37.5%)	1 (12.5%)	0	2.38 ± 0.91
BCr	0	1 (12.5%)	2 (25%)	5 (62.5%)	0	3.50 ± 0.75
Calcium	2 (25%)	1 (12.5%)	4 (50%)	1 (12.5%)	0	2.50 ± 1.06
Phosphorus	2 (25%)	3 (37.5%)	3 (37.5%)	0	0	2.13 ± 0.83

BCr: Blood Creatinine; BUN: Blood urea nitrogen; TSH: Thyroid-stimulating hormone; GTT: Glucose tolerance test; ESR: Erythrocyte sedimentation rate; MNSI: Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument; HbA1c: Hemoglobin A1c; CBC: Complete blood count; FBS: Fasting blood sugar.