Concurrent Bell's palsy and diabetes mellitus: a diabetic mononeuropathy?

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Abstract
In 126 patients with Bell''s palsy, chemical or overt diabetes mellitus was found in 39% of the cases. A high frequency of taste disturbances was found in the patients who had no diabetes (83%), compared to 14% of diabetic patients whose taste was affected (P < 0.001). The usual site of facial nerve lesion in diabetics appears to be distal to the chorda tympani, while in patients whose glucose tolerance was normal, no such selectivity existed. This may only be explained by a diabetes-related pathogenesis, and a vascular rather than a generalized metabolic impairment is postulated, leading to a localized facial nerve ischemia in the distal part of the Fallopian canal. Some cases of Bell''s palsy may be a diabetic mononeuropathy.