Evaluating Gingival Crevicular Blood Glucose in Periodontitis Patients – A Cross-sectional Study

Background and Aim The Indian population is mostly undiagnosed with diabetes due to a lack of awareness leading to serious and long-term complications. Diabetic complications can be prevented by early detection. Thus there is a need to increase opportunities for reliable diabetes screening and early detection. Therefore this study aimed to evaluate gingival crevicular blood for screening the diabetic population.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Periodontology of a Dental College and Hospital in Jaipur comprising 150 patients 25-70 years who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The excess blood produced during the periodontal examination was carefully collected and blood glucose levels were estimated using the self-monitoring device glucometer. Glucose levels were also evaluated from the Finger-prick blood samples using a glucometer. Data obtained were statistically analyzed using Studentrsquos t-test and Pearsonrsquos correlation test.Results The study provided a statistically strong correlation between gingival crevicular blood GCB and capillary finger-prick blood CFB. The mean GCB level was 136.13 plusmn 36.95 mgdl and the CFB levels were 161.62 plusmn 51.84 mgdl. A significant correlation was observed r0.887 plt0.01.Conclusion The study indicates that GCB collected during the periodontal examination can be a good source of blood for glucometric analysis and could be used as a reliable effective and non-invasive chair-side mode of monitoring or screening diabetes in periodontal patients.