Salivary Biomarkers in Diabetes Mellitus

Saliva is emerging as a versatile medium for monitoring diabetes mellitus through its complement of biochemical and immunological markers. Unlike blood sampling, saliva collection is non-invasive, painless and amenable to frequent or at-home testing. In diabetic populations, alterations in salivary constituents reflect metabolic and inflammatory processes underpinning glycaemic dysregulation. Key analytes include glucose, which mirrors blood glucose trends; amylase, an enzyme whose concentration often rises in hyperglycaemic states; immunoglobulins and inflammatory mediators such as C-reactive protein and interleukins; and salivary proteome changes that may anticipate microvascular and macrovascular complications. Advances in microfluidics and biosensor integration have enabled point-of-care platforms capable of detecting low-abundance proteins and hormones including insulin. Collectively, these developments hold promise for early diagnosis, personalised management and improved adherence to therapy, particularly in resource-limited or paediatric settings. With an estimated higher burden in low- and middle-income countries, accessible and affordable diagnostic approaches are essential to mitigate the global diabetes epidemic and its complications. Salivary diagnostics also offer potential for remote monitoring via telemedicine platforms, aligning with trends towards decentralised healthcare delivery. Challenges remain in standardising collection methods, minimising inter-individual variability and establishing robust reference ranges for diverse populations. Continued refinement of analytical protocols and longitudinal validation will be essential to translate salivary diagnostics into routine clinical practice.

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Salivary Biomarkers in Diabetes Mellitus publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in salivary biomarkers in diabetes mellitus across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Glycaemic control: The maintenance of blood glucose levels within a target range.

Unstimulated saliva: Saliva collected without external stimulation, reflecting basal secretion.

Stimulated saliva: Saliva produced in response to gustatory or mechanical stimuli, often yielding higher volume.

Proteome: The entire set of proteins expressed in a biological sample at a given time.

Point-of-care testing: Diagnostic analysis conducted at or near the site of patient care, providing rapid results.

References

1. Changes in Salivary Amylase and Glucose in Diabetes: A Scoping Review. Diagnostics (2021).
2. Correlations of Salivary and Blood Glucose Levels among Six Saliva Collection Methods. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2022).
3. Salivary inflammatory biomarkers and glycated haemoglobin among patients with type 2 diabetic mellitus. BMC Oral Health (2021).