Diabetic patients; level of awareness about oral health knowledge, attitude and practices

ABSTRACT

Diabetes Mellitus [DM], the commonest endocrine disorder is associated with 2-4 times increased risk of coronary artery disease and other macro and microvascular complications in the body. Oral diseases are also more common in diabetics as compared to normoglycemic individuals. The aim of this study was to gather baseline information on knowledge, attitude, and practices of diabetic patients regarding their oral health with the view of enhancing dental health education for them, which will help in updating their knowledge about the diasese and its associated systemic and various oral complications. This study was a cross sectional descriptive survey of 300 diabetic patients visiting the Operative Department of Armed Foreces Institute Of Dentistry Rawalpindi, Pakistan from January 2010 to January 2011. Out of total 300 patients 195 [65%] were males and 105 [35%] were females. 36 [12%] were suffering from Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus and 264 [88%] were suffering from Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. 64% of the patients had knowledge about the oral complications of diabetes. 35% of this group knew about this issue from their treating physicians and 65% from dentists. 13% did not know that diabetes predisposed them to oral disease, and 23% denied any existence of a link between diabetes and oral health. The level of awareness end dental health knowledge in diabetic patients are good in our army set up which is comparable to previous studies carried out locally and abroad but it still needs to be improved by health education