Abstract
We were pleased that Dr Chandu appreciated our study on dental extractions for Type 2 diabetics on oral hypoglycaemics.1 It must be noted that this study was carefully constructed so that it only included ambulance Type 2 diabetics on oral hypoglycaemics. These form the majority (95%) of all diabetics. This study was actually performed in the extraction clinic of Adelaide Dental Hospital which is a designated general practice clinic. The extractions were performed by senior dental students, supervised by junior dental house officers. Thus, this simulates conditions in an experienced general dental practice. Certainly the extraction clinic is co-located within the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Unit so consultants and advanced trainees in oral and maxillofacial surgery and registered nurses are readily available. No patient in our reported study required such back-up expertise. We agree that insulin dependent Type 1 and unstable Type 2 diabetics on insulin require different care. Indeed, one could make good arguments that this is a separate disease which involves a small minority of diabetics. There is an unfortunate tendency to lump all ‘diabetics’ into one category. This should not be the case. Currently readers of the Australian Dental Journal should be aware that we are doing a similar study on insulin dependent diabetics which we will report in the Journal. Watch this space.
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