Treating Periodontal Infection: Effects on Glycemic Control in People With Type 2 Diabetes

There is compelling epidemiological and clinical evidence to suggest that periodontal infection adversely affects glycemic control in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The purpose of this pilot project is to obtain important preliminary data necessary to support design of a full scale, multi-center randomized clinical trial (RCT) to evaluate the effect of treating periodontal infection on glycemic control in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This current project involves treating periodontal infection to obtain estimates of changes and the variability of those changes over time in the established primary endpoint, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). This project will also explore use of several potential secondary endpoints including levels of periodontitis and glucose metabolism-related inflammatory mediators (TNF-alpha, IL-1-beta, IL-6), serum cholesterol, triglyceride and lipids. Subjects are randomly assigned to 1 of three possible groups for comprehensive periodontal examination, specimen collection, mechanical periodontal therapy and oral systemic antibiotics or placebo, and regular follow-up evaluations and site-specific mechanical periodontal therapy, at 3-month intervals, for approximately 15 months. Two groups receive ultrasonic scaling with local anesthesia (as needed), local antimicrobial treatment with povidone-iodine irrigation, and an oral systemic antibiotic (either doxycycline or metronidazole) at the initial treatment visit. The third group ("controls") receives a placebo and supra-gingival oral prophylaxis and ultrasonic removal of supra-gingival calculus with water irrigation at the initial treatment visit. At the 9-month follow-up visit, "controls" receive sub-gingival ultrasonic scaling with povidone-iodine irrigation.

Results from this pilot project will be used as preliminary data to support design of an immediate follow-up proposal to NIH/NIDCR for funding a multi-center RCT to evaluate the effect of treating periodontal infection on glycemic control in type 2 diabetes. If results from the full scale clinical trial provide evidence that treating periodontal infection contributes to improved glycemic control, then diagnosis and treatment of periodontal infection in subjects with type 2 diabetes could be substantiated as an important component in management of diabetes.