Salivary glucose levels in Type 2 diabetes mellitus: A tool for monitoring glycemic control

Abstract

Background and Aim of the Study: Diabetes mellitus (DM) requires a frequent monitoring of sera glucose
levels in the body. This requirement of multiple pricking at regular intervals for monitoring sera glucose
levels in the body is physically and psychologically traumatic to the patient. This necessitates a noninvasive
procedure like salivary glucose estimation. The aim of this study was to assess whether salivary glucose
levels can be used as a means of regular monitoring of DM without the need for serial invasive procedure
required for sera glucose level estimations.
Subjects and Methods: The study group comprised 300 patients, divided into three sub-groups:
Group 1 (healthy controls/nondiabetic patients; n = 50); Group 2 (controlled diabetic patients; n = 125);
and Group 3 (uncontrolled diabetic patients; n = 125). After explaining the need for the study and obtaining
consent, salivary sample collection was performed in the morning hours between 9.00 a.m. and 11.00 a.m.
immediately after obtainment of the sera samples. Salivary and sera glucose levels were measured using
glucose oxidase method.
Statistical Analysis Performed: Statistical analysis was performed with the Statistical Package for the
Social Sciences version 16 software. The difference between means and standard deviations (SDs)
between the groups were assessed using ANOVA one-way test, whereas multiple comparisons
between different groups were carried out using Tukey’s honest significant difference test. The
value of P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant and a value <0.01 was considered highly
statistically significant.
Results: In this study, salivary glucose levels increased with sera glucose levels with the correlation coefficient
between sera and unstimulated salivary glucose levels in the controls being 0.517, in controlled diabetics
being 0.470 and in uncontrolled diabetics being 0.498 (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: It was concluded from this study that saliva can be used as a potential tool in the regular
monitoring of DM.