Bilateral gustatory sweating as a sign of diabetic neuropathy

Abstract

Gustatory sweating is a relatively common sequela to parotidectomy and is almost always unilateral in nature. This article presents a case of bilateral gustatory sweating in a patient with no history of facial trauma or surgery who was undergoing periodontal therapy. A thorough examination determined the cause of diaphoresis to be autonomic neuropathy as a result of a 26-year history of Type II diabetes mellitus. Few cases of this rare complication of diabetes have been described, and the current case represents the first report in the dental literature.