Association between periodontal disease severity and glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a growing public health problem and is closely linked with several chronic complications, including periodontal disease. Poor glycemic control may increase periodontal tissue destruction, while periodontal inflammation may further worsen metabolic control. The study aimed to assess the association between periodontal disease severity and glycemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study included 140 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus selected by purposive sampling. The study was conducted at the Outpatient Department of Periodontology, Chattogram Maa-O-Shishu Hospital Medical College, Chattogram, Bangladesh, from July 2025 to June 2026. Glycemic control was assessed by HbA1c and periodontal disease severity was evaluated by clinical periodontal examination. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0, applying the Chi-square test and the independent-samples t-test, with p<0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: Among 140 patients, most were aged 51–60 years (52; 37.1%) and male (82; 58.6%). Poor glycemic control (HbA1c ≥7.0%) was observed in 97 patients (69.3% of patients). Moderate periodontitis was the most common finding, with 57 (40.7%), followed by severe periodontitis, with 52 (37.1%). Patients with poor glycemic control had significantly worse periodontal parameters, including higher probing pocket depth, clinical attachment loss, gingival index, plaque index and missing teeth (p<0.001). Poor glycemic control increased with periodontal disease severity, from 41.9% in mild periodontitis to 68.4% in moderate and 86.5% in severe periodontitis, with a significant association (p<0.001). Conclusions: Periodontal disease severity was significantly associated with glycemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Poor glycemic control was more frequent in moderate and severe periodontitis, indicating the need for routine periodontal assessment and oral hygiene care in diabetes management.