MMP8 and periodontitis: Elevated levels of key inflammatory mediators, such as interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8), have been observed in the gingival crevicular fluid and serum of individuals with both diabetes and periodontitis, reinforcing the hypothesis of a localized inflammatory pathway that further exacerbates periodontal destruction [11].