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Understanding Diabetes for Dentists

It is really important for dentists to understand reference values of Diabetes to be able to fully consider the impact to Oral Health, including the impact to periodontal disease and the prognosis of dental implants. It may be wise for dentists to perform a post-prandial random glucose test which can be performed by an Accu-Chek device.

NICE recommended target blood glucose level ranges

 

Dentists can obtain a random blood glucose test by use of an Accu-Chek device. Click the following link to see some videos on how the Accu-Chek works : Accu-Chek

RANDOM PLASMA GLUCOSE TEST

A blood sample for a random plasma glucose test can be taken at any time. This doesn’t require as much planning and is therefore used in the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes when time is of the essence.

FASTING PLASMA GLUCOSE TEST

fasting plasma glucose test is taken after at least eight hours of fasting and is therefore usually taken in the morning.

The NICE guidelines regard a fasting plasma glucose result of 5.5 to 6.9 mmol/l as putting someone at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, particularly when accompanied by other risk factors for type 2 diabetes.

ORAL GLUCOSE TOLERANCE TEST (OGTT)

An oral glucose tolerance test involves first taking a fasting sample of blood and then taking a very sweet drink containing 75g of glucose.

After having this drink you need to stay at rest until a further blood sample is taken after 2 hours.

HBA1C TEST FOR DIABETES DIAGNOSIS

An HbA1c test does not directly measure the level of blood glucose, however, the result of the test is influenced by how high or low your blood glucose levels have tended to be over a period of 2 to 3 months.

Indications of diabetes or prediabetes are given under the following conditions:

  • Normal: Below 42 mmol/mol (6.0%)
  • Prediabetes: 42 to 47 mmol/mol (6.0 to 6.4%)
  • Diabetes: 48 mmol/mol (6.5% or over)

The following video helps clarify the information presented above:

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