Role of Salivary Glucose in the Diagnosis and Monitoring of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the correlation of fasting salivary glucose with fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) for the diagnosis and monitoring of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: A case - control study was carried out from 11^th March to 30th August 2021, involving 88 participants out of which 44 were healthy controls and 44 participants were known T2DM who had FPG ≥ 126 mg/dl or 7.0 mmol/L. FPG was measured by Glucose oxidase method and HbA1c by National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program (NGSP) certified chromatography.

Results: T2DM group had significantly higher FPG, HbA1c and salivary glucose values. Both diabetics and healthy controls showed a positive correlation of fasting salivary glucose with FPG. The correlation coefficient (r) was 0.689 and 0.477 for cases and control groups respectively. Similarly, a positive correlation of fasting salivary glucose with  HbA1c was observed with the value of r 0.433 and 0.498 for diabetic and healthy control groups respectively, when measured separately. For both groups linear regression equations were derived and scatter dot plots were plotted. P  value < 0.001

Conclusion: A positive correlation of fasting salivary glucose with FPG and HbA1c was found. As a result, fasting salivary glucose can be utilized instead of plasma glucose for T2DM patients’ screening, diagnosis, and monitoring thereby eliminating the repeated pricks and mental trauma of patients.

Keywords: Blood glucose, glycemia, glycated hemoglobin, salivary glucose, Type 2 diabetes mellitus