Salivary glucose levels and its correlation with serum glucose and glycemic status in Diabetics

摘要

Purpose: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an endocrine disease that is frequently encountered routinely by dentists. There is increased interest towards non invasive modes to diagnose this disease, one of which is Saliva. The aim of the study was to determine Salivary glucose levels in diabetic and healthy controls, to determine and compare salivary glucose levels with serum glucose in a group of diabetic subjects and matched controls and to study the correlation of salivary glucose levels and glycemic control status in diabetics and controls as determined by HbA1c values. Material and Methods:-The study sample included 200 subjects, 120 with diabetes and 80 controls aged between 5-75 years. Samples of whole saliva and serum were obtained for determining salivary glucose level (SGL), Blood glucose level (BGL) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Serum and salivary glucose was assayed by use of Glucose Oxidase Peroxidase method. Glycosylated hemoglobin was determined by Ion Exchange Resin method. Results:-Salivary glucose levels were significantly higher in diabetics than in controls. Significant positive correlation was found between SGL and BGL in diabetics as well as controls. No positive correlation was found between SGL and HbA1c, nor was any correlation found between SGL, age, sex, and duration of disease. Conclusion:-Saliva can be used as a routine potential diagnostic tool in assessing diabetes mellitus, the most prevalent among Indian population. It is a simple and non invasive technique in screening and monitoring of this disease. Repeated painful pricks, hazard of getting infections, complications in hemophiliac patients and various other disadvantages that involve the blood tests currently used for diagnosis and monitoring of this widely prevalent Diabetes mellitus disease, can be replaced by non invasive tests involving Saliva, which is also a cost effective.