Prevalence of hearing loss among patients with type 2 diabetes.

The auditory pathway is the main target for high levels of blood sugar. Increased glucose in diabetic patients can disrupt the auditory system physiologically and anatomically. The present study aimed to examine the prevalence of hearing loss in patients with type 2 diabetes. A total of 94 patients with type 2 diabetes, aged from 40 to 80 years, were selected randomly in the present descriptive cross-sectional study for pure tone audiometry (PTA), speech discrimination score (SDS), and speech reception threshold (SRT) tests. Accordingly, patients with a hearing threshold larger than or equal to 25 dB were considered hearing-impaired according to the PTA test. In addition, the patients' speech discrimination score was measured using a list of monosyllabic words with an intensity of 40 dB or more than the SDS test. However, in the SRT test, the patients' superficial speech comprehension threshold was measured using a list of two-syllable words. Most diabetic patients had hearing loss in both right and left ears based on the PTA and SRT tests. However, they did not have hearing loss in both ears according to the SDS test. There was no correlation between the PTA, SRT, and SDS tests and blood creatinine levels in both ears (p>0.05). Nevertheless, the right ear had a positive correlation with systolic blood pressure only in the PTA test (p<0.05). The difference between the two groups of men and women with type 2 diabetes in the hearing level in the right and left ears was not statistically significant. Hearing loss is a common deficiency in diabetic patients. In addition, it seems that diabetes is an independent risk factor for the hearing loss level.

The effect of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) on lipid profiles and glycemic indices in Type 2 diabetic adults: Randomized double blinded trials.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of okra consumption on serum levels of lipid profiles and glycemic indices in Type 2 diabetic (T2D) patients. The present study was a randomized, double-blinded clinical trial, carried out in Kerman, Iran. Sixty T2D patients were randomized into intervention and control groups and received 10 g okra powder blended in 150 g conventional yogurt or conventional yogurt alone, along with dinner and lunch, for 8 weeks. Glycemic markers and lipid profile were assessed, as well as anthropometric measures, at the beginning and end of study. The findings showed that 8 weeks okra consumption resulted in a significant decrease in fasting plasma glucose (-15.61 ± 19.44 vs. -3.40 ± 24.78; p = .02), homeostatic model of assessment for insulin resistance (-1.17 ± 1.61 vs. -0.14 ± 1.64; p = .01), quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (0.01 ± 0.007 vs. 0.00 ± 0.01; p = .004), triacylglycerol (-22.30 ± 32.46 vs. -3.86 ± 30.57; p = .001), total cholesterol (-10.23 ± 10.36 vs. -2.03 ± 13.94; p = .004), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; -8.15 ± 10.01 vs. -2.31 ± 9.37; p = .02), and LDL-C/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio (-0.28 ± 0.37 vs. -0.08 ± 0.24; p = .01). No significant difference was observed between groups in HDL-C, glycated hemoglobin, fasting insulin levels, and anthropometric measures. The present study suggests that okra consumption can elicit improvements in lipid profile, as well as glycemic markers, among T2D patients.

A Woman with Normotensive Primary Hyperaldosteronism.

Normotensive hyperaldosteronism is a rare disorder. It is usually diagnosed with hypokalemia or an adrenal mass. Our patient was a 27-year-old female presented with weakness. She had normal blood pressure, hypokalemia, high plasma aldosterone level and suppressed plasma renin activity. After the saline load, test aldosterone didn't show suppression. Adrenal computed tomography revealed a left adrenal mass. The patient was treated with spironolactone and potassium supplement. Surgical adrenalectomy was done. Final pathologic diagnosis was benign adrenocortical adenoma without capsular invasion. In postoperative course serum, potassium was normal.