Salivary Output in Type 2 Diabetic Patients.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common but complex metabolic disorder affecting various systems in the body. Oral cavity is no exception as this chronic condition exerts a huge impact on oral health. Salivary dysfunction has been reported to be a frequent oral complication in type 2 diabetics which in turn leads to an array of oral complications because oral health is to a greater extent dependent on the quality and quantity of saliva. Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare the salivary flow rate and prevalence of subjective symptoms of xerostomia in diabetics and nondiabetics. Materials and methods: The study was conducted on 100 type 2 diabetic patients and 50 nondiabetic subjects. Random nonfasting plasma glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin levels were used to determine the diabetic status of the individuals. Unstimulated saliva was collected using 'Spit technique'. Stimulated saliva was collected using 2% citric acid. Unstimulated and stimulated salivary flow rate (USFR and SSFR) was calculated for every patient and expressed as ml/min. Xerostomia was evaluated using a multi-item inventory comprising 19 questions. Results: In our study, both whole unstimulated and stimulated salivary flow rates were decreased in diabetics compared to nondiabetics and this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.000). A greater percentage of diabetic patients perceived xerostomia symptoms compared to nondiabetics. Conclusion: Type 2 diabetics have higher prevalence of xerostomia and significantly reduced salivary flow rate compared to nondiabetics. Alterations in salivary flow create an imbalance in the homeostasis of oral environment leading to spectrum of oral ailments in these individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]