A Case–Control Study to Evaluate Candidal Parameters in the Oral Cavity of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate candidal parameters in the oral cavity of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The samples included in the study were divided into two groups: group A, comprises 50 patients with type 2 DM, and group B, comprises 30 subjects who were nondiabetic. A nonrandom consecutive sampling technique was used to enroll the subjects for the study. The χ2 test was used to examine the characteristics of the samples. RESULTS: The results found that there is a significant difference in saliva and swab for Candida growth between patients with type 2 DM and normal healthy individuals. Swab had shown slightly more Candida growth than saliva in group A (type 2 DM). No significant variation in Candida growth was found. Candida krusei was seen in normal healthy individuals alone. In antifungal susceptibility pattern to various antifungal agents, Candida tropicalis has shown a significant result for various antifungal agents whereas Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis did not show any significant result for various antifungal agents used in group A (patients with type 2 DM). CONCLUSION: Diabetic individuals who are prone to a hyperglycemic state favors the growth and establishment of Candida species. Although a smaller percentage of multidrug-resistant Candida species has been observed in the saliva of patients with type 2 DM.