The relationship between vestibular dysfunction and diabetes mellitus (DM) is explained by glucose metabolism that exerts a great influence on the physiology of the inner ear, which is exceptional for its intense metabolic activity; slight glucose variations can cause changes in both hearing and body balance. OBJECTIVE: To establish a correlation between vestibular dysfunction in patients with DM treated at Foundation Adriano Jorge Hospital in the city of Manaus-Am. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical cross. METHODS: We selected 40 diabetic and non-diabetic patients referred to the otorhinolaryngology department between July 2012 and June 2013 and divided them into the study group (EG) and the control group (CG). These patients underwent audiological evaluations (audiometry and immittance) and vestibular evaluation by vector electronystagmography. RESULTS: We studied 80 ears being observed for changes in tone audiometry, and found 25 (65%) in the EG and only 1 (0.01%) in the GC. Regarding immitancemetry, alterations were observed in 7 ears (17.5%) in the EG and in only 1 ear (0.01%) in the CG. No vestibular changes were detected in the EG, but were observed in 2 ears (5%) in the CG. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that these research data are valid, as there were statistically significant differences in the audiological findings in the EG compared to the CG, which justifies a complete audiological evaluation in patients with DM. There was a predominance of normal vestibular function and a prevalence of audiometric changes.
