Scientists talked about the saliva test for the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes

A simple saliva test can be an alternative to traditional blood tests to assess the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and other metabolic disorders. This is stated in a study published on the Medical Xpress portal.

Jonathan Little, a professor at UBC Okanagan School of Health and Exercise, noted that the new method allows not only to avoid invasive procedures, but also to detect early metabolic abnormalities.

"People living with obesity had much higher levels of insulin in their saliva than those who were slightly overweight or underweight, even though their blood sugar levels were the same," he explained.

According to the researcher, this may indicate the potential of the test as an early diagnostic tool before the appearance of obvious symptoms.

According to the portal, 94 volunteers with different body mass indexes participated in the study. After a period of fasting, they drank a standardized food substitute, and then took saliva samples and underwent rapid glucose analysis.

Dr. Hossein Rafiei stated that the main goal of the work was to develop an affordable and non—invasive method for detecting hyperinsulinemia, a condition with excessive insulin secretion that precedes diabetes and other chronic diseases. He said that there were cases when participants with normal body weight showed pronounced peaks of insulin in saliva after eating. This may indicate hidden risks of metabolic disorders that are not detectable by physical signs or standard tests.

The scientists paid special attention to comparing different indicators — age, gender, body mass index and waist circumference — with the level of insulin in saliva. The most pronounced relationship, according to their data, was observed with waist circumference. This allowed experts to suggest that this parameter may be a more significant indicator of hyperinsulinemia than total weight.

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Alyona Smirnova, a general practitioner and member of the Ahmad Tea Center for industry expertise, said on April 20 that when choosing tea for diabetics, it is important to take into account not only its variety, but also the presence of additives. In moderation, the classic options are allowed — black and green tea without sugar and flavorings. However, the specialist recalled that these drinks contain antioxidants, tannins and caffeine, which can affect insulin sensitivity.