Background:

Diabetes mellitus and periodontal disease have a bidirectional relationship, being prevention the essential tool to achieve an improvement in the level of oral health.

Objective:

To identify the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices of periodontal disease in diabetic patients.

Methodology:

A cross-sectional descriptive observational study was conducted from September 2019 to April 2020 in the diabetic population aged 19 to 40 years at the doctor´s office 11 in Zaza del Medio health area of Taguasco municipality in Sancti Spíritus province. The variables age, sex, level of knowledge, attitudes and practices on oral health were studied.

Results:

67.9 % of the patients had a low level of knowledge about periodontal disease, 78.6 % had an unfavorable attitude and 57.1 % had deficient practices.

Conclusions:

The majority of diabetic patients presented low level of knowledge, non-favorable attitude and poor practices to accomplish periodontal health.

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