Periodontal treatment and HbA1c levels in subjects with diabetes mellitus

It has earlier been reported that individuals with poorly controlled diabetes have severe periodontal disease (PD) compared to well-controlled diabetes. This longitudinal interventional study compared periodontal treatment outcomes with HbA1c level changes in four groups of diabetic and non-diabetic patients with or without PD, respectively. HbA1c, bleeding on probing (BOP), plaque index and periodontal pocket depth (PPD) 4 < 6 mm and >= 6 mm were recorded at baseline to 3 months after non-surgical treatment and 3-6 months for surgical treatment in subjects with or without T2D, and with or without PD. A total of 129 patients were followed from baseline to 6 months. Diabetics with PD and without PD showed reductions in HbA1c levels with a mean value of 0.3% after 3 months and mean values of 1% and 0.8%, respectively, after 6 months. Diabetics with PD showed higher levels of BOP versus non-diabetics without PD (P < 0.01) and versus diabetics without PD (P < 0.05) at baseline. After 6 months, diabetics with PD showed higher number of PPD 4 < 6 mm versus diabetics without PD (P < 0.01) and non-diabetics with PD (P < 0.01). Diabetics without PD showed higher levels of PPD 4 < 6 mm versus non-diabetics without PD (P < 0.01). Surgical and non-surgical periodontal treatment in all groups improved periodontal inflammatory conditions with a decrease in HbA1c levels in a period of three and 6 months. No change was seen in the number of pockets PPD 4 < 6 mm in diabetic subjects with PD after non-surgical and surgical treatment.