Date of Award

11-2013

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

First Advisor

Charlotte Greene, PhD

Second Advisor

Ruth D Thornton, PhD

Third Advisor

JeffreyS Freeman, DO

Abstract

Diabetes is a systemic degenerative disease, having adverse effects on many different organ systems. Nerve conduction specifically related to taste is one of the affected functions and can lead to altered taste perceptions and taste thresholds. Electrogustometry was used in this study to evaluate taste thresholds, and taste sensitivity was tested using phenylthiocarbamide-impregnated testing strips. Healthy non-diabetic subjects were divided into two experimental groups: One with a first degree relative with Type 2 diabetes and the other matched controls having no family history of Type 2 diabetes. The hypotheses: 1). There is a significant difference in taste threshold values and sensitivity to phenylthiocarbamide in non-diabetic subjects with a first degree Type 2 diabetes family history; 2) There is a significant difference in the ability to taste phenylthiocarbamide in these same subjects. The data did not indicate a significant difference (p>0.05) between groups for either of these hypotheses, however a trend towards significance (p> 0.05

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