Dentist Role in Managing Patients with Established Diabetes Mellitus by Correlation of Glucose Levels among Venous, Gingival and Finger-Prick Blood Samples

Dentistrole in managing patients with established diabetes mellitus by correlation of glucose levels among venous, gingival and finger-prick blood samples. Background Periodontitis is often associated with diabetes and considered as the sixth complication of diabetes. Hence it is a common finding in the medical history of patients receiving treatment for periodontal disease. Although periodontal disease itself is associated with gingival bleeding, if the patient is diabetic, investigators find that gingival bleeding is more severe. Aim This study were undertaken to establish a dentist role in managing patients with established diabetes mellitus based on their oral clinical manifestations. Methods A total of 15 subjects, were selected from the department of oral medicine/periodontics Al-Badar Dental College, Gulbarga. Blood samples were collected from venous, gingival and finger-prick, and analyzed by glucose oxidase method, and also by using commercially available glucometer. Results The present study shows that highly significant positive correlation between the venous blood glucose and gingival, finger prick and laboratory values of blood glucose. Conclusion Gingival blood collected during diagnostic periodontal examination may be an excellent source of blood for glucometric analysis.