Gingival blood glucose estimation with reagent test strips: a method to detect diabetes in a periodontal population.

BACKGROUND

Periodontal disease is considered the sixth complication of diabetes. Therefore, as a foremost responsibility of the periodontist, the present study was carried out to screen an unsuspecting periodontal population for the presence of diabetes with the help of gingival blood glucose and reagent test strips.

METHODS

A total of 356 patients with no known medical history of diabetes visiting the outpatient Department of Periodontics, at the Government Dental College and Hospital, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India, were divided into 3 groups: group 1 included patients with a healthy periodontium; group 2, patients with gingivitis; and group 3, patients with periodontitis. Gingival blood, formed by puncturing the interdental papilla of the upper anterior teeth with a lancet, was allowed to fall onto a test reagent strip, where the color change was noted, and corresponding glucose values recorded. Patients with glucose values >120 gm% (per manufacturer provided chart) were sent for glucose tolerance tests to confirm their glycemic status. Patients with abnormal glucose tolerance values were further referred to a physician for the confirmation of diabetes.

RESULTS

Diabetes was detected in 19.1% of the survey population, of which 3.9% of patients belonged to group 1, 7.8% of patients belonged to group 2, and 7.3% of patients belonged to group 3. Diabetes was detected in 40.8% of patients with hyperglycemia, of which 8.4% of patients belonged to group 1, 16.8% of patients belonged to group 2, and 15.6% of patients belonged to group 3. A total of 10.11% of the survey population who tested positive for diabetes were females and 8.99% were males.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of reagent strips for the estimation of gingival blood glucose seemed to be a suitable option for the screening of an unsuspecting periodontal population for the presence of diabetes; however, additional studies in a larger population are needed to confirm their suitability.