Background: Diabetes mellitus is the third leading cause of death and due to limited access to the quality health care, the diabetic patients are more prone to develop complications.
Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate 𝛼-2-macroglobulin in saliva as marker for glycemic control in type 2 diabetic patients.
Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional observational study included 90 subjects, classified into 3 groups: Group (1)included 40 patients with type 2 DM with HbA1c levels more than or equal to 7% (inadequate glycemic control). Group (2)included 40 patients with type 2 DM with HbA1c levels less than 7% (adequate glycemic control). Group (3)included 10 healthy persons as a control group with fasting plasma glucose less than 100 mg/dl, 2 h plasma glucose less than 140 mg/dl, and HbA1c less than 5.7%. All patients were subjected to full history taking, complete clinical examination, laboratory investigations and assessment of salivary 𝛼-2-macroglobulin. Results: The mean level of salivary α-2-macroglobulin (A2MG) in the control group was 173.40 ± 58.76 ng/ml, in the adequate glycemic control group, it was 337.90 ± 86.95 and in the inadequate glycemic control group, the level was 998.81 ± 203.04 ng/ml. There was high statistically significant difference between the three groups.
Conclusion: Salivary A2MG is a promising biological marker for glycemic control in patients with type 2 DM. For individuals with modest training, whole saliva provides a good method for type 2 DM screening and/or monitoring of large populations.