INtroducing DIabetes Checks in A denTal practice Environment: INDICATE
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Introducing Diabetes Checks in A denTal practice Environment: INDICATE
IRAS ID
277583
Contact name
Zehra Yonel
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Birmingham
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 9 months, 31 days
Research summary
Type 2 diabetes is a growing problem, predicted to account for 17% of money spent in the NHS by 2035(10). Almost 4 million people in the UK are currently diagnosed with diabetes, but it is thought another 1 million have undiagnosed diabetes(11) and another 12 million are at high risk of developing it(12). People may remain undiagnosed for years because diabetes often has no symptoms in its early stages(13).
The UK National Screening Committee (NSC) recognises benefits to earlier identification of people at high risk of developing diabetes or with undiagnosed diabetes(3) including reducing the risk of complications like heart-attacks, stroke and blindness(14, 15). It is suggested that 1-in-5 diabetes patients already have developed complications at the time they are diagnosed (16). Evidence also shows that diabetes is preventable in those at high risk(17). The NHS has developed the Diabetes Prevention Programme, a service to which GPs (general practitioners) can refer patients and which help patients reduce their risk. New approaches to identify people with undiagnosed diabetes or who are at high-risk of developing diabetes may result in better health, improved quality of life for patients, and reduced NHS costs.
In the UK, most people only see their GP when they feel unwell. However, most people visit a dentist for regular check-ups, even when they think themselves healthy(18).
This research aims
1) To determine the feasibility and acceptability of using UK dental practices to identify patients at high risk of diabetes or with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes.2) To determine the accuracy of the risk assessment process in identifying those who are at high risk or who unknowingly have type 2 diabetes.
Dental settings provide a unique opportunity to check large proportions of the population for the condition. Importantly, diabetes has known associations with periodontal disease (gum disease); dentists therefore also need to be aware if their patients have diabetes such that they can manage their oral health appropriately.
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/LO/0654
Date of REC Opinion
25 Oct 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion