Recent studies have shown that proteins in saliva can reflect high blood sugar and associated disease processes in children and adolescents with uncontrolled type 1 diabetes. This means that a simple saliva sample could replace blood tests to assess and monitor diabetes and can provide this information long before the appearance of clinical symptoms. Read the article for in-depth information on the research.

Co-author of the study, Professor Heleni Vastardis of NKU Athens School of Dentistry, explains, “The signs of diabetic pathology are already in place way before manifestation of clinical complications." This testing mechanism could lead to better prediction and prevention of long-term complications of diabetes.