Study of the Effect of Local Anesthesia with Adrenaline on Blood Glucose Levels in Diabetic Children (A Controlled Clinical Study)

Abstract

Introduction: The increasing prevalence of Type 1 diabetes in children highlights the need for healthcare providers in general, and dentists in particular, to be well-informed about the complications and effects of any drug or non-drug treatment provided to these children on blood glucose levels. It is essential to achieve and maintain acceptable blood glucose levels in diabetic children, given the impact this has on the oral cavity on one hand, and the potential serious complications for the body as a whole on the other, due to fluctuations in blood sugar levels before, during, and after intraoral treatments.

Aim: To understand the effect of adrenaline contained in the anesthetic ampoule on blood glucose levels in children with Type 1 diabetes at various intervals following the injection of local anesthesia with adrenaline, in the context of dental treatments.

Methods and Materials: This study included 30 children, categorized according to Frankl’s scale as positive and definitely positive. These children were diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and required dental treatment on the primary molars in the lower jaw, necessitating an inferior alveolar nerve block injection with a local anesthetic (2% lidocaine and 1:80,000 adrenaline).

Blood glucose levels in these children were measured four times as follows: five minutes after having arrived at the dental clinic, immediately after receiving the local anesthetic injection, 15 minutes after receiving the local anesthetic injection, and 30 minutes after receiving the local anesthetic injection.

The independent sample t-test was used in SPSS 20 to perform statistical comparisons between the mean blood glucose levels at the previously mentioned time intervals.

Results: A significant increase in blood glucose levels was observed between the time of the child’s arrival, during anesthesia, after 15 minutes, and after 30 minutes. The lowest increase in blood glucose occurred during anesthesia, while the highest increase was noted 30 minutes after anesthesia.

Conclusion: The adrenaline used in the context of local anesthesia had a clear effect on the mean blood glucose levels, with this effect varying at each evaluated time point. The highest blood glucose level was recorded 30 minutes after anesthesia.