IL6 and periodontitis: The systemic inflammation triggered by periodontitis can affect the regulation of the serum glucose level through an increase in the levels of inflammatory mediators, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6, MMPs, oxygen radicals, and acute-phase proteins, which interfere with the glucose control mechanism, inhibit and inactivate the insulin receptors, and reduce the uptake of glucose into the cell.