Glucose and Electrolytes Concentrations in Blood and Saliva Samples amongst Diabetics

Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic disorders of carbohydrate metabolism in which glucose is underutilized, producing hyperglycaemia. The management requires proper maintenance of glucose and electrolytes within its optimum concentrations. The study was designed to evaluate the possibility of using saliva as an alternative non-invasive sample for the determination of electrolytes. A total of 100 samples were utilized consisting of equal number of control (non-diabetics) and diabetic groups. Fasting blood and saliva were collected employing standard methods. The biochemical parameters were analysed using WHO approved methods and procedures. Independent samples t-test and Pearson correlation were the statistical tools used for the data analysis obtained from SPSS package (version 20). The study revealed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in concentrations of blood and salivary glucose, potassium and calcium when controls were compared to diabetics. Moreover, there was a high level of semblances and patterns between plasma and salivary electrolytes, except for potassium. Therefore, electrolytes and glucose results gotten from the use of saliva could be used to equate to that of blood. Hence, instances of non-accessibility of blood, saliva could be of help.