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Tobacco Cessation at Dental Clinics (TCDC) for Patients with Diabetes in Bangladesh

Why is TCDC particularly important for Diabetic patients?

Diabetes is a major non-communicable disease with high prevalence in South Asia that makes a large contribution to morbidity and mortality. It increases healthcare use and expenditure and imposes a huge economic burden for a country.

Oral diseases are common among diabetic patients, where periodontitis (disease of tooth supporting bone and soft tissue) is considered the sixth most common complication of diabetes. Research has shown a bidirectional association between these two conditions. Oral lesions are also prevalent in diabetic patients.

On the other hand, tobacco use increases the risk of diabetic complications and has deleterious effects on periodontal status, e.g. it accelerates periodontitis and worsens its response to treatment. Chewing tobacco is the known risk factor for many oral lesions. Therefore, it is important to incorporate TCDC for patients with diabetes.

The study will help tobacco cessation among people with diabetes. Quitting tobacco and maintaining oral hygiene could improve oral health and better control of blood glucose among diabetic patients.

Where will the research be conducted?

TCDC for patients with diabetes will be tested at the Department of Dentistry, Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation of Diabetes Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders (BIRDEM), Dhaka, Bangladesh. Bangladesh is a country in South Asia where the prevalence of diabetes is increasing. The prevalence of tobacco use particularly of chewing forms is high in Bangladesh and about 34% of diabetic patients are estimated to use tobacco. The increasing prevalence of diabetes and oral diseases along with high levels of tobacco consumption is a major health challenge here.