Association of diabetes mellitus on the development of oral candidiasis

The objective of this study was to determine the association of diabetes mellitus (DM) with the development of oral candidiasis among known diabetic mellitus patients. A prospective cohort study was conducted using 100 DM subjects with 50 non-diabetic endocrine subjects and 50 apparently healthy nursing staff as comparative groups. An oral rinse, blood, and saliva were obtained for fasting blood glucose test, hemoglobin A1c, and fasting salivary glucose (FSG) tests, respectively. Sixty-six DM subjects were positive for Candida. Twenty-nine and 23 subjects were positive in the non-diabetic endocrine and the apparently healthy group, respectively. Unlike the comparison group, the total colony-forming units per milliliter of Candida were raised in the DM group. Of all Candida species isolated, 70.37% of the single-species isolates were Candida albicans, and 29.6% were non-albicans Candida. Candida growth was significantly associated with the food pattern of participants (P = 0.026), use of dentures (P = 0.001), duration of wearing dentures (P = 0.006), and FSG level (P = 0.026). A significant correlation was identified between the Candida growth and FSG level of participants (P = 0.026, r = 0.239), the log value of the total colony count (per mL), and the FSG level of the individuals (P = 0.029, r = 0.234), and also between FSG level and fasting blood sugar level of participants (P = 0.005, r = 0.297). Significantly higher colonization of Candida was identified in diabetic patients compared to non-diabetic or healthy individuals. Food pattern, wearing of dentures, and FSG were significant contributing factors for oral Candida growth.