NCT01711385

Undiagnosed Diabetes in a Dental Setting

Screening for Undiagnosed Diabetes in a Dental Setting - A New Paradigm for Dental Practice

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 101 (actual)
• Sponsor: Columbia University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 30 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

In an ongoing study new dental patients are screened to determine their risk of having undiagnosed pre-diabetes or diabetes based on risk factors readily known by the patient and signs of gum disease. Investigators further seek to assess if a post-identification intervention leads to a greater likelihood of study participants identified as potentially pre-diabetic or diabetic visiting their physician regarding their screening blood test results, and to improved health outcomes.

Detailed description

Approximately 3% to 4% of the U.S. adult population has undiagnosed diabetes and the prevalence is likely to be substantially higher among people with risk factors for diabetes. Of note, many patients at the time of diagnosis of diabetes already have diabetic complications. This indicates that there is a period of "asymptomatic" diabetes during which hyperglycemia and other risk factors are present and complications are developing. This substantial delay in clinical diagnosis of diabetes involves a period of about 10-12 years that elapses between onset of diabetes and its diagnosis. Early diagnosis of diabetes, with treatment aiming at strict control of blood glucose levels, is important in preventing or mitigating its clinical complications and improving health outcomes. Oral findings may offer an unrealized opportunity for the identification of affected individuals unaware of their condition. Previous research suggests that oral healthcare professionals have the opportunity to identify unrecognized diabetes and pre-diabetes in dental patients and refer them to a physician for further evaluation and care. Based on these findings, efforts to identify dental patients' risk of having undiagnosed pre-diabetes or diabetes, using a new diagnostic blood test as the outcome (HPLC HbA1c), continue. In addition, a subgroup of study subjects identified as potentially pre-diabetic or diabetic are randomly assigned to either a group 1/basic-standard intervention arm or to a group 2/enhanced intervention arm. The investigators seek to determine if a post-identification intervention leads to a greater likelihood of study participants identified as potentially pre-diabetic or diabetic visiting their physician regarding their blood test results and to improved health outcomes. Results of this pilot study have the potential to set in motion far ranging, changes in the practice of dentistry, leading to the advancement of a new paradigm in dental practice that calls for the adoption of a more holistic approach to patient care.

Conditions

• Prediabetic State
• Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus With Oral Complications
• Periodontal Pocket
• Tooth Loss

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Enhanced intervention	Study patients are notified of their blood test result within 72 hours. Those identified as potentially pre-diabetic or diabetic, and randomized to the enhanced intervention arm, receive a tailored message about their modifiable risks and are advised to see their physician regarding their test results or are provided with a referral to one. They are given a letter to take to their physician that specifies the risk factors identified, the tests carried out for the patient and the exact numeric results. They receive a call at month 2 to see if they have followed up with a physician regarding their test results. If they have not seen a physician regarding their results, they are advised again to do so and reminded of their individual risk factors. At month 4 they are asked again if they have seen a physician regarding their test results. If they still have not seen a physician at this time the message is reinforced. They are contacted again by phone to schedule the 6-month recall visit.

Timeline

• Start date: 2009-04-01
• Primary completion: 2012-12-01
• Completion: 2013-06-01
• First posted: 2012-10-22
• Last updated: 2021-08-17

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States