Diabetes mellitus, Obesity and Periodontitis – A three way interconnection

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is the most common metabolic and endocrine disorder which causes a rise in blood glucose levels often attributed to insulin resistance or relative insulin insufficiency. The listed complications T2DM include retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy, stroke, and peripheral vascular diseases. Apart from these patients having uncontrolled and longstanding T2DM are prone to various cardiovascular disorders and oral diseases. Periodontitis, which involves inflammation of the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone has been listed as the sixth complication of diabetes mellitus for decades. Obesity is a serious social problem and is ranked as the fifth leading cause of mortality worldwide. Insulin resistance makes obesity a major risk factor for T2DM. Diabetes mellitus further adds to the periodontal tissue destruction. The hormones and cytokines in obese persons produce a series of inflammatory reactions that aid in developing periodontal disease. There are several studies linking the inflammatory triad between obesity, diabetes mellitus, and periodontitis. This review elucidates the interconnection between T2DM, obesity, and periodontitis.