Diabetes mellitus(DM) can lead to peripheral sensory impairment, yet the relationship between DM status and intraoral tactile sensitivity (ITS) has not been studied. Objectives: This study compared the ITS in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects as a function of demographic variables at three intraoral sites. Methods: The sample comprised 655 participants of the project Oral Health: San Antonio Longitudinal Study of Aging. Classification of DM status used the American Diabetes Association criteria. ITS was assessed with the Oral MicroAesthesiometer (Neurocommunication Research Laboratories, Danbury, CT) with a direct scaling procedure (Weiffenbach et al., 1990). The dependent variable was the individual slopes of the psychophysical function relating physical stimulus intensity to subjects' intensity judgments. Data were analyzed using ANOVA for repeated measures with between subjects factors being Age (<65 vs. >65), Gender (Females vs. Males), Ethnic Group (Mexican-Americans vs. European-Americans), and DM (Yes vs. No), and the within subjects factor being Intraoral Site (Anterior Tongue AT vs. Posterior Tongue PT vs. Soft Palate SP). Results: Demographic variables were not significantly related to ITS (p > 0.050). The main effect for sites was statistically significant (p=8.86 x 10^-7). The means ± SE were: 0.22±0.01 for AT, 0.23±0.01 for SP, and 0.27±0.01 for PT. The only significant effect involving Diabetes was the significant Site x Age x Diabetes interaction (p=0.035). Young Diabetics had significantly greater tactile sensitivity at PT (0.31±0.03) compared to Old Diabetics (0.23±0.02). There was no association of ITS and duration of DM for any site. Medications and other conditions were not controlled. Conclusions: These results suggest that DM may not directly influence intraoral tactile sensitivity. Supported by NIH/NIDCR P50DE10756 and CAPES/Brazil BEX 0807/99-0.

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