Screening for diabetes mellitus using gingival crevicular blood with the help of a self-monitoring device

PURPOSE The purpose of study was to compare blood glucose in capillary finger-prick blood and gingival crevice blood using a self-monitoring blood glucose device among patients with gingivitis or periodontitis. METHODS Thirty patients with gingivitis or periodontitis and bleeding on probing (BOP) were chosen. The following clinical periodontal parameters were noted: probing depth, BOP, gingival bleeding index, and periodontal disease index. Blood samples were collected from gingival crevicular blood (GCB) and capillary finger-prick blood (CFB). These samples were analyzed using a glucose self-monitoring device. RESULTS Descriptive statistical analysis has been carried out in the present study. Data were analyzed using a Pearson's correlation coefficient and Student's t-test. A r-value of 0.97 shows very strong correlation between CFB and GCB, which was statistically highly significant (P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS The authors conclude that GCB may serve as potential source of screening blood glucose during routine periodontal examination in populations with an unknown history of diabetes mellitus.