Diabetes mellitus and considerations for dentistry

Diabetes mellitus (DM, diabetes) is a chronic metabolic condition characterized by hyperglycemia caused by an absolute or relative deficiency of insulin, a hormone secreted by the β- cells of the pancreas, as well as disorders in protein, fat and carbohydrate metabolism, capillary membrane changes and accelerated atherosclerosis. (1-10) In other words, diabetes is defined as an endocrine disorder that can occur in the absence of insulin and is characterized by hypofunction of the islets of Langerhans βcells, resulting in excessive increase of blood glucose levels and excretion of glucose from the urine. With this metabolic disorder, the pancreas may produce insufficient insulin, or peripheral tissues may become insulin resistant. (1,4,6,7)