[Level of glycemic control in diabetic patients reffering to zahedan dental school [Iran] in 2005]

ABSTRACT

Currently, diabetes is a basic problem in many countries. Increase in the prevalence of diabetes places dentists in the position of the first member of a health care team to detect new cases of diabetes. Besides, dentists must also be able to render dental care to patients who are already being treated for diabetes. Because of importance of glycemic control of diabetic patients in dental treatment plan and strong correlation between oral complications and level of glycemic control, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the level of glycemic control in diabetic dental patients before dental procedures. At this cross sectional study, 100 diabetic patient's reffered to Oral Medicine Department of Zahedan Dental School, were studied [from May to March 2005]. After an informed consent of diabetic patients, patient's blood sample was taken in standard conditions, sent to laboratory to detect level of HbA1c and the level of glycemic control was determined in patients. Data were analyzed by the Chi-square, Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis and t-tests. Thirty two percent of patients had good glycemic control [6% patients had fair control [7.6% sex, education, duration of disease and HbA1c level, but there was a significant association between medication type and HbA1c level [P=0.008]. Diabetic dental patients glycemic status may not be controlled at a desired level and dentists have to change dental treatment plan accordingly, thus attention should be paid to the glycemic control in diabetic dental patients before any procedure