Serum fructosamine correlates with gingival index in children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM)
The authors state that people with diabetes have poor collagen metabolism resulting in gingival collagen being removed excessively and replaced incompletely, thus progressing to rapid breakdown of periodontal connective tissues. Diabetic microangiopathy obliterates tissue repair and regenerative processes by poor delivery of nutrients to the tissue, decreased oxygen diffusion, and impaired metabolic waste elimination, all of which may increase the susceptibility to bacteria and impaired healing process.
The fructosamine levels were evaluated among 48 children with IDDM and controlled by 20 nondiabetic patients. The results indicate that the diabetic status and gingivitis correlated. Thus gingival pathology, as measured by the presence of clinical gingivitis, is more severe in patients with poor diabetic control. [D.R.H.]
Firatli, E.,T. Ural, N. Sako, and U. Onan, J Clin Periodont, 21:565, 1994