[Taste sensitivity diminution in hyperglycemic type 2 diabetics patients]. / Disminución de la sensibilidad gustativa en diabéticos tipo 2 con hiperglucemia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between fasting blood glucose (FBG) values and gustatory sensitivity alterations in type 2 diabetic patients (DM2) without peripheral neuropathy (PNP). METHODS: Assessment of the strength of association between FBG and detection and recognition taste thresholds for the four primary tastes measured by chemical gustometry were performed in 140 DM2 without PNP with evolution < 10 years. RESULTS: FBG values above 7.77 mmol/L (140 mg/dL) induce in a dependent manner, the increase in the detection and recognition taste thresholds only to sweetness; whereas, values above 16.65 mmol/L (300 mg/dL) did not cause further decreasing in taste acuity to sweet flavor. Statistically significant differences where found for detection and recognition, taste thresholds for sucrose between well controlled (HbA1c < or = 7 %) normoglycemic and hyperglycemic diabetics, as well as between alarming uncontrolled (HbA1c > 10 %) normoglycemic and hyperglycemic patients. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperglycemia induces a concentration-dependent impairment of sweet taste perception in DM2 patients as the result of an adaptation of the sensory cell to elevated circulating concentrations of glucose.

[Utility of adequate values of an occasional fasting and postprandial glycemia in the chronic control of the type-2 diabetic patient]. / Control de la glucemia en diabeticos tipo 2. Utilidad de mediciones en ayuno y posprandiales.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the sensitivity and specificity of occasional fast and postprandial glycemias as for a chronic control of the type-2-diabetic patient. MATERIAL AND METHODS. DESIGN: Descriptive, cross-sectional in 850 type-2-diabetic adults patients from the outpatient clinic of the Zone General Hospital and Family Medicine 9 in Ciudad Guzmán, Jalisco, Mexico, without insulin therapy, with creatinine values lower than 132.6 micromol/L (1.5 mg/ dL), and glycemia over 4.4 mmol/L (80 mg/dL). PROCEDURE: Blood extraction was carried out to determine fasting glycemia, cholesterol, triglycerides and glycosilated haemoglobin (HbA1c). After that, they were given a breakfast of 320 Kcal, and new blood samples were taken for postprandial glycemia. The statistical programs used were Epi-Info 2000, Epi-Dat. RESULTS: Age, 59. +/- 11.2 years old; antiquity in diabetic diagnosis, 4.8 +/- 6.7 years; fasting glycemia average, 9.9 +/- 4.4 mmol/L (178.6 +/- 79.4 mg/ dL); postprandial glycemia, 14 +/- 6.1 mmol/L (251.6 +/- 109.6 mg/dL); HbA1c, 9.3 +/- 3.4 %. An acceptable fasting glycemia presents an adequate chronic control sensitivity of 44.8 %, with a specificity of 82.1 %. On the other hand, a postprandial glycemia presented a sensitivity of 46.5 % and specificity of 77.3 %; both acceptable parameters have a sentivity of 31.4 % and specificity of 83.3 % to identify a good control of HbA1c. CONCLUSIONS: Random parameters present very little sensitivity to the diagnosis of a good chronic control of the patient; however, as screening tests, they show an acceptable specificity for the HbA1c poor values.