Oral Health of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and the Quality of Life Regarding Oral Health

Aim: This study was conducted to identify the factors affecting the oral health of patients with type 2 diabetes and to determine the relationship between oral health and the quality of life. Method: This cross-sectional descriptive study included 158 patients with diabetes who visited the endocrinology and metabolism polyclinic of a university hospital. Data were collected using patient diagnosis form, Oral Assessment Guide, and the Scale of the Oral Health Related Quality of Life. Pearson's correlation analysis, percentage, average, Student's t-test, and Kruskal-Wallis test were used to evaluate the data. Results: The average age of the patients was 59.72 +/- 9.33 years, and the average disease duration was 10.06 +/- 7.27 years. Among the patients, 62.2% stated that their oral health became worse after they were diagnosed with diabetes. Patients' the point average of the oral health was found to be at risk in terms of mucositis development (11.46 +/- 2.35), and the quality of life in terms of oral health was in the medium level (45.37 +/- 8.09). No statistically significant relationship was observed between the point average of the quality of life in terms of oral health and the patients' age, the presence of another chronic disease, the duration of the disease, and metabolic parameters (p>0.05). However, male patients with diabetes and participants who graduated from middle school had a relatively higher point average of the quality of life in terms of oral health (p<0.05). Conclusion: Patients with diabetes had poor oral health and poor quality of life in terms of oral health. Gender and education level affected the quality of life in terms of oral health.