Flow Rates of Resting whole Saliva of Diabetic Patients in Relation to Age and Gender

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia, present with symptoms such as thirst, polyuria, and weight loss. The oral complications associated with this disease include dry mouth due to decrease in salivary flow and enlargement of the salivary glands.Cross sectional study conducted to estimate flow rates of resting whole saliva in 150 subjects (100 diabetic patients of both types I & II as experimental group, and 50 subjects as control group) which correlated with age and gender.The subjects were divided into three main groups: control group and two diabetic groups according to the types of diabetes mellitus( I& II).Unstimulated saliva were collected, and salivary flow rate was measured by establishing the time factor (5 minutes), after estimating the volume of collected saliva the salivary flow rate was calculate as ml/min.Results indicated that poorly controlled diabetic patients had more diminished salivary flow rate when compared with good controlled diabetic and non-diabetic subjects. Female diabetic patients older than 45 years, revealed a lowered salivary flow rate when compared with male diabetic patients younger than 45 years.