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ARTICLE |
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Background: Taste perception
is an integral part of a person’s life. This perception gets altered
due to many factors, one of which is diabetes mellitus. There is
limited data on the taste alteration for sweet in Type 1 diabetics.
Objective: To evaluate the
sweet taste perception in subjects with type 1 diabetes by the mouth
threshold index test.
Methods: A cross-sectional
study with 200 subjects inclusive of both sexes. The subjects were
grouped into 2:100 control, composed of non-diabetics, and 100 tests,
with Type 1 diabetic patients were recruited from Endocrinology Out
patient department at Osmania General Hospital, Hyderabad to take part
in this study. Sensitivity test in determining threshold index for
sensory perception was analyzed. The tests were conducted on 5 sections
containing different concentrations of glucose.
Statistical analysis: The two
groups were statistically analyzed using Chi square test with P value
< 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Among the study
population, majority of participants had 0.25M (51 (51%) in
non-diabetic and 28 (28%) in diabetic), 0.50M (26 (26%) in non-diabetic
and 37 (37%) in diabetic) and 1M (11 (11%) in non-diabetic and 23 (23%)
in diabetic) as concentration at which sweet taste was perceived. Type
diabetics showed less sensitive to sweet stimuli compared to controls.
Conclusion: Type 1 diabetes
patients showed greater threshold index for sweet taste perception,
this finding could further result in increased sweet intake leading
increased blood sugar levels in these patients.
