Comparison between blood-salivary glucose level and salivary-lacrimal flow rate in diabetics and non diabetics.

Context: There is alarming rise in number of people with diabetes mellitus over these years. Saliva can offer a great value to detect the diabetes mellitus at an early stage if we are able to establish the positive correlation between blood and salivary glucose levels. Also there is decrease in the salivary and lacrimal flow rate seen in diabetic patients. Aims: This is a cross-sectional study undertaken with the aim to assess the correlation of salivary glucose level with blood glucose level and salivary and lacrimal flow rate in people with diabetes mellitus. Settings and Design: For investigations, 2 sets of samples of people with diabetes and the age and sex matched non-diabetic subjects were recruited. Methods and Material: Unstimulted salivary flow rate was measured by graduated syringe. The blood glucose level and salivary glucose levels in unstimulated whole saliva samples were analyzed using glucose oxidase method. Lacrimal flow rate was measured by Schirmmer’s test. Statistical analysis used: Pearson’s correlation coefficient test was applied to assess the correlation between salivary glucose level and blood glucose level. Results: The significant (P < 0.05) positive correlation of salivary glucose level and fasting blood glucose level was observed in people with diabetes in both the sets of samples. But there was no positive correlation found between salivary and lacrimal flow rate in people with diabetes in both the sets of samples. Conclusions: Although study suggests some potential for saliva as a marker in monitoring of diabetes mellitus, there are many aspects that need clarification before we reach to a conclusion.