Understanding Inflammation: The Key to Targeted Preventive Measures for Diabetes and Periodontitis

Type 2 diabetes and periodontitis are both chronic inflammatory diseases. Common pathways of inflammation are responsible for these diseases and each appears to contribute to the severity and degree of control of the other. Periodontal treatment that reduces gingival inflammation aids in the control of hyperglycemia. Periodontitis is accompanied by gingival bleeding and the production of an inflammatory exudate termed gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) that arises from the inflamed gingival tissues surrounding the teeth. GCF contains byproducts of connective tissue degradation, enzymes from host and bacterial cells, cytokines and other inflammatory mediators, and has been studied for screening blood glucose and for biomarkers of both diabetes and periodontitis. This chapter focuses on the bidirectional nature of diabetes and periodontitis and the biomarkers common to both these diseases that may enable earlier detection, targeted preventive measures and individualized therapeutic intervention of these chronic conditions.