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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Diabetes is a disease that affects the entire family. Whether you’re a parent, sibling or other family member, knowledge and understanding can make a difference.
Perhaps, then, you already know that if you have diabetes, you are more likely to have periodontal disease than those without. Some believe it’s because people with diabetes are more susceptible to contracting infections. Periodontal disease is often considered a complication of diabetes. Those people who don’t have their diabetes under control are especially at risk.
Research has suggested that the relationship between diabetes and periodontal disease goes hand-in-hand. On the one hand, periodontal disease may make it more difficult for people who have diabetes to control their blood sugar. On the other, severe periodontal disease can increase blood sugar, contributing to longer periods when the body functions with high blood sugar. If you have diabetes, you know this puts you at increased risk for complications from the disease.
If you don’t know you have diabetes, or some of the aspects surrounding the disease, that is a problem in itself. Think about this troublesome thought. Harris Interactive recently found that more than one-third of all respondents – or 36 percent — are not aware of the link between diabetes and oral health and are less likely to associate oral health issues with diabetes than almost all other health conditions related to diabetes. What’s more, at least half – or 54 percent – report one or more symptoms of gum disease, and 67 percent do not discuss their oral health with their doctor.
Say What?
The findings obviously reveal a lack of awareness about the various health issues associated with diabetes. People with diabetes should know they are more susceptible to serious health problems, such as serious gum disease and gingivitis, and that vulnerability may have the potential to affect blood glucose control and contribute to the progression of diabetes.
What is, perhaps, more problematic is that more than half – 59 percent – of respondents said they are not personally concerned about gum disease, and only 38 percent of those with diabetes say that they pay “a great deal” of attention to their oral health and dental care.
For individuals with diabetes, it’s essential that they understand the connection between diabetes and oral health. By working with healthcare providers, patients can take charge of their diabetes and successfully prevent and treat gum disease.
If you would like to learn more about gum disease and ensure a standard of healthy living that will enable your smile to last a lifetime, call the professionals at Gallardo & Lamas Periodontics and Implant Dentistry at 305.447.1447 or visit them online at www.miamiperio.com.
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