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 years 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 severity, recovery rate from or healing of BP.