Study to Evaluate the Level of Awareness about the Association between Diabetes and Periodontal Health in Diabetic Individuals - A Questionnaire based Study.

Abstract

Introduction: Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by decreased insulin secretion, action or a combination of both, resulting in hyperglycemia and excretion of glucose in urine. Oral disease is one of the complications of Diabetes Mellitus that is less emphasized and discussed with patients by a Physician or Diabetologist. The hyperglycemia in Diabetes Mellitus exaggerates the destruction of periodontal tissues, which in turn has negative influence on glycemic control. Periodontitis has been shown to adversely affect glycemic control in Diabetic patients, thereby increasing the risk to develop diabetic complications. Periodontal treatment seems to effectively improve the glycemic control of individual. Various researches have shown adverse bidirectional relationship between Diabetes Mellitus and Periodontal Disease. Aim and Objectives of the study: To assess 1)The level of knowledge and awareness in Diabetic patients about the systemic and oral complications following Diabetes Mellitus
type of diabetes. 3) Percentage of Physicians advising frequent dental consutation for their diabetic patients. 4) Awareness in Diabetic individuals about the need to perform better oral care to maintain a good oral health than Non-Diabetics. Materials and Methods: A total number of 150 Diabetic patients were included in the study. The study incorporated the use of a self- administered questionnaire. The pattern of questions in the questionnaire were close-ended (multiple choice questions). The choices in the response of few of the questions were Yes, No, I don’t know. After the participants’ completion of the questionnaire, they were counselled about the importance of regular and routine visit to Diabetologist as part of diabetes care management and the possible correlations between Diabetes and oral health and the importance of maintaining a good oral health and the need for frequent dental visits. Results: Regarding Diabetic patient’s knowledge and awareness about systemic and oral complications associated with Diabetes, 86.7% of patients were aware of their increased risk of heart disease, kidney disease (80.7%), eye disease (61.3%), oral infections(37.3%). About 52.03% had Type II Diabetes, 8.78% had type I Diabetes, 39.19% did not know what type of Diabetes they had. While addressing the question about the percentage of Physicians advising the need for frequent dental visits, about 24% responded Yes, 47.33% responded No, 28.67% responded Don’t know. While addressing the question regarding the Awareness in Diabetic individuals about the need to perform better self oral care to maintain a good oral health than Non-Diabetics, 22.1% said Yes, 38.9% said No, while 38.9% said Don’t know. Conclusion: The level of awareness about the possible oral complications due to diabetes and the existence of bidirectional relationship were poor and inadequate among the study participants. Knowledge about the need to maintain a better oral hygiene was also inadequate. A better level of information and communication by the Physician with the Diabetic patient about the association between Diabetes and Periodontal disease could help diabetic patients reduce the occurrence of oral complications.