Diabetes is a serious health problem that affects how your body utilizes blood sugar or glucose. Glucose is important to your overall health because it’s a crucial source of energy for the cells that constitute your tissues as well as your muscles. What’s more, it’s your brain’s primary source of fuel. Recent research tends to show that there is a link between diabetes and periodontal disease.
Ranked sixth on the list of the most common diabetes complications, periodontal disease poses a significant risk to the health of those suffering from diabetes. According to research, diabetes patients are more than four times more likely to suffer from gum infection as well as bone loss.
A brief overview of diabetes:
Diabetes is a life-threatening health condition that affects people whose systems can’t sufficiently utilize insulin or manufacture the hormone. In case you didn’t know, insulin is a hormone that allows your body to convert glucose, starches as well as other types of foods into energy. To be more precise, insulin draws sugar or glucose from your blood before transporting it to your body cells. And this is how energy is derived.
Diabetes patients usually find it hard to make or utilize insulin, and this makes their bodies lack the much-needed energy. Ultimately, their blood sugar levels will go up, which in turn, triggers numerous health complications, ranging from the kidney to the heart as well as eye problems.
Diabetes is a very common health condition that currently affects at least twenty million Americans, including children and adults. Also, clinical studies show that more than six million people are unaware they have the disease.
The most common diabetes symptoms include frequent urination, constantly feeling hungry or thirsty, impaired vision, persistent fatigue as well as wounds that don’t heal. Other symptoms may include dry mouth, itchy skin, and numbness or tingling of hands or feet. However, those with diabetes rarely notice these symptoms, continuing to live with the condition as if they are living a normal life. And this is why more than six million diabetic patients aren’t quite aware they have the disease.
A brief overview of periodontal disease:
Also referred to as gum disease, periodontal disease simply refers to the infection of the gums and bones that support your teeth, keeping them in your ligament and jaw. Left unattended, periodontal disease could lead to tooth loss. It is worth noting that the primary cause of gum disease is bacterial plaque. Plaque is an extremely adhesive and colorless microbial film. Gum disease will always irritate the gums, ultimately resulting in infection because of the toxicity of the plaque.
So, what is the link between managing diabetes and treating gum disease?
If you have gum disease, you will inevitably find it very hard to manage your diabetes. A simple explanation for this is that your system’s reaction to periodontal disease can possibly raise your blood glucose levels. And this is why doctors strongly recommend that you should first effectively treat periodontal disease. This is when you can properly manage your diabetes condition. Thankfully, it’s often easy to treat gum disease through the use of antibiotics. And when successfully treated, you will inevitably see a dramatic improvement in overall blood sugar level. When you successfully treat gum disease as a diabetic patient, you will also reduce your insulin reliance!
If you are looking for a dentist, HPS Advanced Dental Care would love to see you. Dr. Heather is gladly accepting new patients.
We are located at 4741 24 Mile Rd. Shelby Township, MI 48316, and we can be reached at (248) 652-0024. We look forward to meeting you!
