C17orf99 and periodontitis: These findings enhance understanding of salivary inflammatory patterns in diabetes-associated periodontitis, although the saliva-only, cross-sectional design warrants cautious interpretation.<h4>Clinical relevance</h4>The identification of salivary asprosin, IL-40, and IL-1β as potential indicators of periodontal and metabolic inflammation suggests that saliva-based testing could support non-invasive screening and monitoring in patients with diabetes and periodontitis.<h4>Clinical trial number</h4>NCT06735313.