Comparative Assessment of Fluoride Levels in Individuals with Chronic Fluoride Exposure and Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

Kolar district a semi urban area located in Karnataka with an exponential increase in the incidence of diabetes mellitus and associated microvascular complications. The district is declared to be fluoride endemic and fluoride has been shown to increase blood glucose levels and impair glucose tolerance in animal models. Impaired glucose tolerance often is a precursor of type 2 diabetes. The aim of the study is to find the link between fluoride and diabetes, also if there is any association of fluoride in Diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy. Materials and Methods: All the subjects recruited were from the rural part of Kolar district whose major occupation is agriculture. As evident from the results of present study, in group III (Diabetic nephropathy) serum fluoride (0.313±0.154) is increased and urine fluoride (0.3±0.6) excretion is decreased. In group IV (diabetic retinopathy) cases both serum fluoride concentration (0.88±0.742) and urine fluoride excretion (0.92±0.61) are proportionately increased. In group III; diabetic nephropathy, fasting insulin is directly proportional and microalbumin is inversely proportional to serum fluoride levels. These observations conclude that in diabetes fluorosis primarily affects eyes if not kept in check it causes detrimental effect on renal tissue at later stages leading to non- skeletal fluorosis.