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Study: Dentists can help detect undiagnosed diabetes

2026-03-06 08:22:00, Shëndeti CNA

Study: Dentists can help detect undiagnosed diabetes

A new study suggests that visits to the dentist could help detect undiagnosed cases of diabetes through a simple blood test performed during a dental checkup.

According to the study published in the Journal of Dentistry, a fingerstick blood test, performed at the dental chair, showed that more than one in three patients had high blood sugar levels consistent with diabetes or prediabetes.

The study involved more than 900 patients undergoing dental checkups. They underwent a Hemoglobin A1C test, which measures average blood sugar levels and provides results in about six minutes without requiring patients to fast.

The results showed that about 29% of the patients had blood sugar levels that indicated prediabetes, while 7% had full-blown diabetes. None of them had previously reported a history of diabetes.

Researcher Giuseppe Mainas from King's College London said dental visits could provide an important opportunity to identify people at risk, particularly older patients, those with a higher body mass index and people with gum disease.

Meanwhile, lead researcher Mark Ide emphasized that patients who result with high hemoglobin A1C levels can then be referred to their family doctor for further testing.

The researchers also found that higher blood sugar levels occurred more frequently in patients with severe gum disease, highlighting the connection between oral health and metabolic health.

According to Professor Luigi Nibali, the relationship between gum disease and diabetes is two-way: inflammation can affect the metabolic system and, at the same time, metabolic problems can worsen gum disease.

The researchers plan to further explore the use of this test in other healthcare settings and analyze the impact of lifestyle factors, such as diet, on blood sugar levels and oral health./ CNA





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