A Comparative Study on Salivary Glucose Level in Diabetic Patients and Healthy Individuals

Abstract

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is defined as metabolic disorder resulting from absolute or relative deficiency of insulin. Deficiency of insulin causes hyperglycaemia which leads to systemic complications. To prevent these complications frequent monitoring of glycaemic levels by non invasive methods is needed. Saliva is emerging as a non invasive diagnostic fluid. Few studies conducted on the saliva as an non invasive diagnostic fluid are having conflicting results. Considering the existing controversies the present study was conducted to assess the role of salivary glucose level in monitoring glycaemic level in diabetic patients. Aim: The aim of the present study is to find out the statistical significance of the difference in the salivary glucose level between diabetics and healthy individuals to establish its diagnostic role in monitoring the glycaemic level in diabetic patients. Materials and Methods: Total 300 cases of Type II diabetes mellitus of the age ≥35 years were included in the study. Blood glucose level and salivary glucose level was determined by Gluocse oxidase-peroxidase method using semi autoanalyser. Results: The blood glucose level and salivary glucose level were high in diabetic patients and the difference between the salivary glucose level of diabetic and healthy individuals was found to be statistically significant. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the significant difference in salivary glucose level makes the saliva as an upcoming diagnostic fluid for the monitoring of glycaemic level in diabetes mellitus.

Keywords

• metabolic syndrome
• saliva
• serum