Diabetes Mellitus and Bell’S Palsy in Iranian Population

During last decades many researchers have focused on the conditions associated with bell’spalsy including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and viral infections. this study was performed to evaluatecorrelation of diabetes mellitus and bell’s palsy and some relevant features not discussed in the literature inan iranian population. the presence of diabetes mellitus was evaluated in a total number of 275 subjects(75 patients with bell’s palsy and 200 control subjects). diabetes mellitus was noted in 10 (13.3%)patients with bell’s palsy among which 6 case were diagnosed as new cases of diabetes. previous history ofbell’s palsy was present in 10.67% of the subjects with bell’s palsy. this study confirms the correlationof diabetes mellitus and bell’s palsy for the first time in an iranian population. we suggest screening testsfor diabetes mellitus to be a routine part in the management of patients with bell’s palsy, especially indeveloping countries.