Assessment of random blood glucose levels among dental outpatients for early detection of undiagnosed diabetes: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Survey

AbstractBackground: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disease that often remains undiagnosed for years. Dental professionals can serve as front-line screeners for undiagnosed hyperglycemia because many oral manifestations reflect systemic glucose dysregulation. Aim: To estimate the prevalence of elevated random blood glucose (RBS) levels among undiagnosed individuals visiting a dental institution and to correlate the findings with age and gender. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 adult patients attending the out-patient department of Vishnu Dental College, Bhimavaram. Venous blood samples were tested for RBS using the glucose oxidase–peroxidase method. Participants were classified as non-diabetic (<140 mg/dL), prediabetic (140–199 mg/dL), or diabetic (≥200 mg/dL). Data were analyzed using SPSS v25 and Chi-square tests. Results: Out of 290 consenting participants, 76 % were non-diabetic, 12 % prediabetic, and 12 % diabetic. Elevated RBS values were significantly associated with male gender and older age (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Routine chairside glucose screening in dental clinics is a simple and effective method to identify undiagnosed hyperglycemia. Integrating this practice could contribute to early referral and prevention of systemic complications. Keywords: Undiagnosed Diabetes; Random Blood Sugar; Dental Screening; Prediabetes; Oral Health; Diabetes Mellitus