Does Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Affect the Healing of Bell's Palsy in Adults?

Objectives: Bell's palsy (BP) is defined as an acute facial weakness of unknown cause. Many factors affecting the healing of BP have been identified; 1 factor commonly considered relevant is the presence of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Our aim was to investigate the effects of diabetes on the healing of BP. Methods: Sixty patients with BP were followed up for 1 to 3 yeais and were divided into 2 groups, those with and those without type 2 diabetes. All were prescribed prednisone (initially 1 mg/kg per day, with a tapered dose reduction) and acyclovir (200 mg orally every 4 h, 5 times daily, for 5 days). Their recovery times were compared. Results: The healing times of the patients with and without diabetes did not differ. Conclusions: Diabetes does not affect the seventy, lecoveiy late fiom or healing of BP. (C) 2017 Canadian Diabetes Association.