Endocrine Abstracts

Diabetes is a common disease with concomitant oral manifestations that impact dental care.

Purpose: To investigate oral health awareness, oral hygiene and behavior in adults with diabetes.

Subjects and methods: This study involved interviews with a sample of 30 patients with diabetes type 2 followed in the C department of the National Institute of Nutrition in Tunis using a questionnaire study on oral health behavior and awareness.

Results: The mean age of our patients was 53±7 years, with a sex ratio M/F=0.43. The average duration of diabetes was 10±8 years. The majority of respondents (59.4%) visited a dentist once a year, but oral care varied: 67.2% reported brushing at least once a day, whereas only 4.3% flossed daily. Awareness of oral health risks was limited, only 22% of the participants answered correctly about oral health knowledge items related to diabetes and 74.1% had never received any oral health advice related to their diabetes. ConclusionsMany adults with diabetes have poor awareness of oral care and health complications associated with diabetes, and are receiving limited advice. Health professionals should take the opportunity to educate patients with diabetes and to promote proper oral health behaviors.