Oral and Dental Considerations in Diabetes Mellitus: An Integrative Review

Abstract

The human body is remarkably designed with the ability to preserve a stable internal environment through highly organized regulatory mechanisms. This state of equilibrium, known as homeostasis, is maintained by intricate feedback systems and internal signals, including hormones and chemical pathways, that enable adaptation to external challenges such as fluctuations in temperature, pH, and blood glucose levels. When this delicate balance is disrupted, it often results in disorders or diseases.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one such multifaceted metabolic disorder, marked by disturbances in carbohydrate, protein, and lipid metabolism. Its defining feature is persistent hyperglycemia, which arises from inadequate insulin secretion, resistance of target tissues to insulin action, or a combination of both [1].