The glucose and protein content of the gingival fluid and blood of 10 diabetic patients and 10 control subjects with gingival and plaque indices of 1–2 were compared. Both the control and diabetic groups had similar blood and gingival fluid protein levels as well as comparable gingival fluid volumes. The glucose content of both the gingival fluid and the blood of the diabetics was significantly elevated above those seen in the control group. The glucose content of the gingival fluid from the diabetics also showed a significant correlation to blood glucose levels found in each patient. The increased glucose content of the gingival fluid in diabetics may reflect metabolic changes in the gingival tissues as well as altered vascular permeability of the capillaries present in the gingival crevice.
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