[Olfactometric results of the olfactory function in diabetics]

Olfacto-odorimetrical examinations in 110 diabetics resulted in comparison to an examined control group of 110 rhinologically healthy non-diabetics (patients of an ENT-outpatient department) in olfactory disturbances in the sense of a quantitative dysosmia. The percental ratio of the patients with normosmia to patients with dysosmia in the entire group of diabetics was 23.6 : 76.4 in comparison to 58.2 : 41.8 in the non-diabetics. After the chi2-test the result was a significant difference between the two groups. In the diabetics as well as in the control group a decrease of the olfactory function with growing age which was shown in an increase of the olfactory perceptual threshold could be statistically ascertained. Clear connections between olfactory ability on the one hand and sex, number of births in women, smoker habits, blood sugar content and content of urinary sugar, kind of medication, relative metabolic condition, concomitant diseases and duration of diabetes on the other hand could not be established.