Journal of Diabetes Mellitus, 2019, 9, 39-49
http://www.scirp.org/journal/jdm
ISSN Online: 2160-5858
ISSN Print: 2160-5831
DOI: 10.4236/jdm.2019.92005 May 22, 2019 39 Journal of Diabetes Mellitus
Glucose and Electrolytes Concentrations in
Blood and Saliva Samples amongst Diabetics
Mieebi Martin Wankasi
1*
, Eni-yimini Solomon Agoro
2
, Charles German Ikimi
3
,
Edidiong Okon Tommy
4
1
The Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Science, Niger Delta University,
Wilberforce Island, Nigeria
2
Enis Biomedicals and Forensics (EBF) LTD., Yenagoa, Nigeria
3
Department of Biochemistry, Federal University Otuoke, Otuoke, Nigeria
4
Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Nigeria
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic disorders of carbohydrate metabol-
ism in which glucose is underutilized, producing hyperglycaemia. The man-
agement requires proper maintenance of glucose and electrolytes within its
optimum concentrations. The study was designed to evaluate the possibility
of using saliva as an alternative non-invasive sample for the determination of
electrolytes. A total of 100 samples were utilized consisting of equal number
of control (non-diabetics) and diabetic groups. Fasting blood and saliva were
collected employing standard methods. The biochemical parameters were
analysed using WHO approved methods and procedures. Independent sam-
ples t-test and Pearson correlation were the statistical tools used for the data
analysis obtained from SPSS package (version 20). The study revealed a sig-
nificant increase (p < 0.05) in concentrations of blood and salivary glucose,
potassium and calcium when controls were compared to diabetics. Moreover,
there was a high level of semblances and patterns between plasma and sali-
vary electrolytes, except for potassium. Therefore, electrolytes and glucose
results gotten from the use of saliva could be used to equate to that of blood.
Hence, instances of non-accessibility of blood, saliva could be of help.
Keywords
Saliva, Blood, Electrolytes, Glucose, Non-Invasive
1. Introduction
Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic disorders of carbohydrate metabolism
How to cite this paper: Wankasi, M.M.,
Agoro, E.S., Ikimi, C.G. and Tommy, E.O.
(2019) Glucose and Electrolytes Concentra-
tions in Blood and Saliva Samples amongst
Diabetics. Journal of Diabetes Mellitus, 9,
39-49.
https://doi.org/10.4236/jdm.2019.92005
Received: January 28, 2019
Accepted: May 19, 2019
Published: May 22, 2019
Copyright © 2019 by author(s) and
Scientific Research Publishing Inc.
This work is licensed under the Creative
Commons Attribution International
License (CC BY 4.0).
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Open Access