What Researchers Did
A scoping review was conducted to synthesize existing data on interventions for type 2 diabetes (DM2)-associated olfactory dysfunction (OD) and explore therapies used for non-DM2 causes.
What They Found
Out of 3631 identified articles, only 3 met the inclusion criteria for DM2-associated olfactory dysfunction (OD) treatments. These articles discussed hyperbaric oxygen (HBO), the DPP-4 inhibitor Linagliptin, and the GLP-1 agonists Exenatide and Liraglutide. Only HBO and GLP-1 agonists produced statistically significant improvements in olfactory function.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients with type 2 diabetes experiencing olfactory dysfunction may have limited specific treatment options currently. However, therapies like hyperbaric oxygen and GLP-1 agonists, which are used for diabetes management, show some promise for improving smell.
Canadian Relevance
This study does not have a direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
A major limitation is the scarcity of research on treatments for type 2 diabetes-associated olfactory dysfunction, with only three articles meeting the inclusion criteria.