Significant correlation between taste dysfunction and HbA1C level and blood sugar fasting level in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in at a tertiary care center in north India

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) effect quality of life very much and causes various complications. Diabetic autonomic neuropathy (DAN) is one of the common complications in diabetes. The taste threshold affected by various factors such as age, ethnic backgrounds, drugs, local and systemic diseases, consumption of alcohol, smoking, and tobacco chewing. The present study is undertaken with the objectives to compare the alteration in taste threshold for four primary sensations in Type 2 DM with autonomic neuropathy. 60 patients of T2DM with autonomic neuropathy and 60 healthy controls were taken for the study. Autonomic neuropathy was assessed clinically. Chemical taste test using four solutions of basic tastes (sweet, sour, salty, bitter) were done. Taste dysfunction for sweet was significant in T2DM with uncontrolled hyperglycemia. The taste dysfunction in T2DM patients was not related to gender, disease duration, and type of treatment taken. The study found a significant correlation between taste dysfunction, HbA1C level and blood sugar fasting level in T2DM patients. The taste dysfunction was mainly for sweet. Sour and bitter did not show any difference in case groups compared to controls.