Relationship between periodontal diagnosis and parameters of type-1 diabetes management

Objectives: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) can lead to complications including cardiovascular disease, renal failure, blindness and periodontal disease. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the relationship between periodontal status and parameters of diabetes management in patients with T1DM.

Methods: Young adults (aged 16-35 years) with T1DM were diagnosed with either periodontal health (H) (n=6), gingivitis (G) (n=22), chronic periodontitis (CP) (n=4) or aggressive periodontitis (AP) (n=12) using well defined classification criteria following clinical and radiographic examination. Body mass index (BMI) was measured and venous blood samples were collected for quantification of glycated haemoglobin (% HbA1c) and high sensitivity serum C-reactive protein (hs-CRP).

Results: Data from 44 T1DM patients are reported. The mean (±SD) age was 28.6±4.9 years, 8 patients were smokers and 20 patients were male. Mean (±SD) BMI, HbA1c and hs-CRP are shown below, and did not differ significantly between periodontal diagnosis categories (p>0.05).

	BMI(kg/m2)		%HbA1C		hs-CRP(mg/L)
	Mean±SD	% Meeting Target	Mean±SD	% Meeting Target	Mean±SD	% Meeting Target
H	27.3±5.4	50%	7.8±1.3	50%	3.3±2.6	50%
G	27.3±4.3	31%	8.9±2.5	26%	6.3±7.8	50%
CP	27.4±4.5	25%	8.9±1.4	25%	5.8±6.9	50%
AP	26.3±5.4	41%	8.9±1.5	9%	3.7±4.6	73%

Mean scores for all parameters exceeded the accepted guideline targets for patients with diabetes (BMI:25.0kg/m²;HbA1c;7.5%;hs-CRP:<3mg/L). Notably, only 9% of patients with AP met the target for glycaemic control.

Conclusion:   From this preliminary report of an ongoing study of T1DM patients, guideline targets for diabetes management are often not being met, increasing the risk of developing diabetes related complications in this group of patients. At this stage however, no significant differences in these parameters of diabetes care were detected between periodontal diagnosis categories.

Supported by a grant from the Newcastle Hospitals Healthcare Charity