Method: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 40 adult individuals who were equally allocated between two age and sex matched groups (diabetic group and healthy non diabetic group). Clinical data were collected from all participants including: medical and oral health histories, assessment of subjective xerostomia, lip and buccal mucosa dryness, measurement of unstimulated salivary flow rate and glycated hemoglobin level (HBA1c%), in addition to radiographic assessment of the size and CT number of both the parotid glands (PG) and submandibular glands (SMSG). The size of a gland was determined as its maximum cross-sectional area and its CT number was determined as the mean CT number of three circular regions of interest ( ROI’s). The mean of the right and left sides was used for statistical analysis; P value < 0.05 was considered significant.
Result: The presence of DM2 was associated with a high prevalence of xerostomia, lip and buccal dryness, lower salivary flow rate, higher HBA1c%, larger size as well as lower CT numbers of the PG (P < 0.05). A positive correlation existed between xerostomia and age, duration of diabetes, lip dryness, buccal dryness, HBA1c %, and the size of the PG (P < 0.05). While there was negative correlation between xerostomia and salivary flow rate and the CT number of the PG. The size and CT number of the SMSG did not show a significant correlation with xerostomia.
Conclusion: Xerostomia is accompanied with salivary gland structural changes, functional impairment and hyposalivation in DM2. PG is more implicated in diabetic sialadenosis than SMSG. The management of oral diseases in diabetic patients should always include a comprehensive evaluation of the salivary glands.