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Research Hub

Welcome to the Research Hub – your go-to source for concise, digestible summaries of the latest research on the connection between periodontitis and diabetes. Explore key findings on topics such as how periodontal inflammation affects glycaemic control and the benefits of periodontal treatment.

Our summaries provide quick insights, but they are not exhaustive. For a complete understanding of each study’s methodology, results, and implications, we encourage you to review the original research articles. Please note that the Periodontitis-Diabetes hub is not responsible for inaccuracies or misinterpretations of condensed content.

For more guidance on understanding research, including how to interpret studies and evaluate their findings, visit the ‘Colgate Professional Website’  and search for ‘Understanding Research in Dentistry.’

Dive into the science and uncover the powerful link between oral and systemic health!

Periodontitis may worsen diabetic kidney disease via a prostaglandin pathway

05.09.26

In a mouse model of type 2 diabetes, experimentally induced gum disease worsened diabetic nephropathy (DN — kidney damage caused by diabetes) by activating an enzyme–hormone pathway (HPGDS–PGD2) inside the kidney’s filtering units (glomeruli). Blocking this pathway with a drug protected the kidneys. A small clinical study in patients suggested a possible link between urinary HPGDS, kidney function and gum disease.

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How diabetes-related changes in gut bacteria may worsen gum disease

15.03.26

This study in mice found that diabetes-related changes in gut bacteria weakened the gut’s protective lining and increased oxidative stress, worsening gum inflammation and bone loss. Restoring healthier gut bacteria, protecting the gut lining or giving oleic acid reduced this damage, but studies in people are needed to confirm these benefits.

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How periodontal treatment may improve kidney function and diabetes control

22.12.25

Periodontitis is associated with systemic inflammation and has been linked to chronic kidney disease and diabetes. This randomised trial examined whether non-surgical periodontal treatment improves kidney function, systemic inflammation and blood glucose control in patients with chronic kidney disease.

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Can saliva testing help to detect gum disease in diabetes?

13.10.25

A combination of bacteria and inflammatory markers in saliva distinguished participants with type 2 diabetes and periodontitis from systemically healthy participants without periodontitis, with reported accuracy of 95%. Further testing is needed to establish whether it can reliably identify gum disease within the diabetic population.

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Butyrate may show promise in reducing diabetes-related gum damage

22.09.25

In mice, butyrate (a substance produced by gut bacteria) reduced diabetes-associated periodontal damage and restored the balance between two types of immune cells. Whether this approach benefits people remains unproven.

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Probiotic adds no clear gum-health benefit in diabetes trial

17.09.25

Adding Limosilactobacillus reuteri probiotics to periodontal treatment did not provide additional improvements in gum health or overall bacterial outcomes in patients with diabetes. A possible improvement in blood glucose control was observed, but it was not statistically significant in a separate analysis excluding participants with protocol deviations.

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Diabetes is linked to a higher risk of peri-implantitis

27.08.25

In a large Swedish register-based study of nearly 19,000 people with dental implants, both type 1 diabetes (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) were associated with a higher risk of peri-implantitis (inflammation and progressive bone loss around a dental implant). The link was clearest for T1DM, particularly when blood-sugar control was poor.

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Antioxidants and gut microbes may ease diabetes-related gum disease

04.08.25

In diabetic mice, oxidative stress (an imbalance between damaging free radicals and the body’s antioxidant defences) and gut dysbiosis (an unhealthy shift in gut bacteria) appear to fuel each other, worsening periodontitis (inflammatory destruction of the tissues supporting the teeth). Both an antioxidant (curcumin) and faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT — transfer of stool bacteria from a healthy donor) reduced this damage.

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Periodontitis may worsen diabetic kidney disease via a prostaglandin pathway

17.06.25

In a mouse model of type 2 diabetes, experimentally induced gum disease worsened diabetic nephropathy (DN — kidney damage caused by diabetes) by activating an enzyme–hormone pathway (HPGDS–PGD2) inside the kidney’s filtering units (glomeruli). Blocking this pathway with a drug protected the kidneys. A small clinical study in patients suggested a possible link between urinary HPGDS, kidney function and gum disease.

Read more

Prolonged fasting may modestly reduce gum inflammation in metabolic syndrome

12.05.25

In 43 patients with metabolic syndrome, a 5–10-day medically supervised prolonged fast was associated with lower gum inflammation, less plaque and small, selective shifts in oral bacteria. The overall oral microbiome remained largely stable.

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Periodontitis is the 6th most prevalent condition globally

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Periodontitis and diabetes are bidirectionally linked

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Diabetic complications are increased if you have both diseases

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Successful periodontal treatment can improve blood glucose control

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Periodontitis is the 6th most prevalent condition globally

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Periodontitis and diabetes are bidirectionally linked

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Diabetic complications are increased if you have both diseases

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Successful periodontal treatment can improve blood glucose control

Our Team

Team - The Periodontitis-Diabetes Hub

Dr Varkha Rattu

Founder & Periodontology Co-Lead

Team - The Periodontitis-Diabetes Hub

Dr Amar Puttanna

Diabetes Co-Lead

Team - The Periodontitis-Diabetes Hub

Dr Rajeev Raghavan

Diabetes Co-Lead

Team - The Periodontitis-Diabetes Hub

Professor Mark Ide

Periodontology Co-Lead

Team - The Periodontitis-Diabetes Hub

Professor Luigi Nibali

Periodontology Co-Lead

Team - The Periodontitis-Diabetes Hub

Dr Dominika Antoniszczak

Education & Support Advisor

Team - The Periodontitis-Diabetes Hub

Dr Jasmine Loke

Clinical Content Advisor

Team - The Periodontitis-Diabetes Hub

Dr Mira Shah

Patient Resource Advisor

Team - The Periodontitis-Diabetes Hub

Elaine Tilling

Outreach & Communications Lead

Team - The Periodontitis-Diabetes Hub

Dr Varkha Rattu

Periodontitis-Diabetes Hub Position: Founder & Periodontology Co-Lead

Team - The Periodontitis-Diabetes Hub

Dr Amar Puttanna

Periodontitis-Diabetes Hub Position: Diabetes Co-Lead

Team - The Periodontitis-Diabetes Hub

Dr Rajeev Raghavan

Periodontitis-Diabetes Hub Position: Diabetes Co-Lead

Team - The Periodontitis-Diabetes Hub

Professor Mark Ide

Periodontitis-Diabetes Hub Position: Periodontology Co-Lead

Team - The Periodontitis-Diabetes Hub

Professor Luigi Nibali

Periodontitis-Diabetes Hub Position: Periodontology Co-Lead

Team - The Periodontitis-Diabetes Hub

Dr Dominika Antoniszczak

Periodontitis-Diabetes Hub Position: Education and Support Advisor

Team - The Periodontitis-Diabetes Hub

Dr Jasmine Loke

Periodontitis-Diabetes Hub Position: Clinical Content Advisor

Team - The Periodontitis-Diabetes Hub

Dr Mira Shah

Periodontitis-Diabetes Hub Position: Patient Resource Advisor

Team - The Periodontitis-Diabetes Hub

Elaine Tilling

Periodontitis-Diabetes Hub Position: Outreach and Communications Lead

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