Is Utilizing a Glucometer in the Dental Office Effective in Improving Diabetic Patient's Oral Health?

Introdouction: Periodontal treatment could have a positive effect on diabetes control. In this study, the researchers evaluated the efficacy of utilizing glucometer devices to detect glycemic levels in dental offices on inducing motivation towards the oral health care of diabetic patients. Eighty volunteer patients with moderate periodontitis were selected for participation in one of the two groups (40 diabetic patients and 40 non-diabetics); the two groups were unified based on age and sex. Each participant’s baseline blood glucose level with 2 hours post-prandial test (2 hpp) and periodontal parameters of CAL, PI, and BI were measured, and the two groups underwent non-surgical periodontal treatment accompanied by comprehensive oral hygiene instructions. Then, 2 hpp was measured using a glucometer after 1 week and 1 month. All periodontal parameters were evaluated again 1 month after non-surgical treatment. The pattern of changes in 2 hpp mean values over time was not similar for the two groups. In the diabetic patients, the mean of 2 hpp values after 1 week (T1) and 1 month (T2) significantly decreased when compared with that at baseline (T0) (both p < 0.001). Moreover, the mean of 2 hpp values at T2 was significantly lower than that of T1 (p < 0.001). All periodontal parameters significantly decreased at T2 compared to T0 in both groups, but the difference between two time points was significantly higher only for CAL in the diabetic group compared to the non-diabetic group (p = 0.022). The use of a glucometer, as a proactive behavior to increase motivation, was not as effective as oral hygiene instructions on plaque control improvement in diabetic patients with chronic periodontitis.