The correlation between sulcular glucose blood level and capillary glucose blood level

Diabetes Mellitus is the most common metabolic condition. This disease is not diagnosed in approximately ½ of the patients actually suffering from the disease. In addition, the prevalence of diabetes mellitus is more than in patients with periodontitis when compared to periodontally healthy subjects. Thus, a high number of patients with periodontitis may have undiagnosed Diabetes Mellitus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between capillary blood glucose level and sulcular blood glucose level and blood from gingival tissues during routine periodontal examination used form gingival tissues during routine periodontal examination used for determining glucose level. Methods & Subjects: Thirty non-diabetic and 30 diabetic patients with moderate or severe periodontitis were included and subjected to routine clinical periodontal examination. Blood oozing from gingival tissues of anterior teeth following periodontal pocket probing was collected with the stick of glucose self monitoring devices. As control, finger stick capillary blood was taken. Statistical analysis was performed by Pearson’s correlation coefficient and t tests. The patient blood glucose levels ranged from 58 mg/dl to 477 mg/dl and the value of blood samples taken from gingival or finger tip showed a very high intra patient correlation (r = 0.99, P< 0.0001). The results suggested that blood oozig during routine periodontal examination may be used for Diabetes Mellitus screening in a dental office setting. Since there is correlation between sulcular glucose blood level and capillary glucose blood level, we can use this method for screening diabetic patient in dental clinic.