Long-term hyperglycemia is related to micro and/or macrovascular complications in diabetes mellitus. The interrelationship between diabetes and periodontitis is bi-directional and inflammation is the common feature of both diseases. This study aimed to search the effects of the number of chronic vascular complications in type 2 diabetics on the amount of periodontal tissue destruction and the periodontal disease severity. This cross-sectional study included 127 individuals with type 2 diabetes who developed at least one diabetes-related chronic complication. The severity of periodontitis and the amount of gingival inflammation and periodontal tissue destruction between patients with several vascular complications were compared. We also compared the periodontal parameters and the severity of periodontitis according to glycemic control levels and in terms of the presence of macrovascular complications. All periodontal clinical parameters and periodontal disease severity were significantly higher in patients with 3 and 4 diabetic vascular complications than in patients with fewer complications. In patients without macrovascular complications, the severity of periodontitis was significantly lower compared to those with macrovascular complications (p<0.05). Worsened gingival inflammation was shown in patients with poor glycemic control, but there was no statistically significant difference in PD and CAL. Our findings showed that the severity of periodontal disease was higher as the number of diabetes-related chronic complications increased. The extent of gingival inflammation was elevated with poor glycemic control whereas the amount of periodontal tissue destruction did not change.
