title: Correlation of salivary glucose, blood glucose and oral candidal carriage in the saliva of type 2 diabetics: A case-control study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the correlation between blood glucose levels and salivary glucose levels in type 2 diabetic patients, to study the relationship between salivary glucose levels and oral candidal carriage in type 2 diabetic patients and to determine whether salivary glucose levels could be used as a noninvasive tool for the measurement of glycemic control in type 2 diabetics.
  
  
  METHODS
  THE STUDY POPULATION CONSISTED OF THREE GROUPS: Group 1 consisted of 30 controlled diabetics and Group 2 consisted of 30 uncontrolled diabetics based on their random nonfasting plasma glucose levels. Group 3 consisted of 30 healthy controls. Two milliliters of peripheral blood was collected for the estimation of random nonfasting plasma glucose levels and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Unstimulated saliva was collected for the estimation of salivary glucose. Saliva was collected by the oral rinse technique for the estimation of candidal counts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The salivary glucose levels were significantly higher in controlled and uncontrolled diabetics when compared with controls. The salivary candidal carriage was also significantly higher in uncontrolled diabetics when compared with controlled diabetics and nondiabetic controls. The salivary glucose levels showed a significant correlation with blood glucose levels, suggesting that salivary glucose levels can be used as a monitoring tool for predicting glycemic control in diabetic patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study found that estimation of salivary glucose levels can be used as a noninvasive, painless technique for the measurement of diabetic status of a patient in a dental set up. Increased salivary glucose levels leads to increased oral candidal carriage; therefore, oral diagnosticians are advised to screen the diabetic patients for any oral fungal infections and further management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Vananchal Dental College and Hospital, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India.
authors.forename: Satish
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Vydehi Institute of Dental Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Padmashree
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Vydehi Institute of Dental Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Rema
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jayalekshmi
keywords: HbA1c; oral candidal carriage; salivary glucose levels; type 2 diabetes mellitus; type 2 diabetics