What Researchers Did
Researchers investigated how hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) affected the sense of smell in patients with type 2 diabetes experiencing nerve damage, comparing their olfactory function before and after 30 HBOT sessions to that of healthy individuals.
What They Found
The study found that patients with type 2 diabetes and nerve damage had significantly worse olfactory function compared to healthy individuals, as measured by CCCRC and VAS scores. After receiving 30 sessions of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, these patients showed a statistically significant improvement in their sense of smell, according to both scoring methods. This suggests HBOT can improve olfactory dysfunction in diabetic neuropathy.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
The abstract does not specify the pressure (ATA) used for hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and the study design lacked a sham control group for comparison.