Periodontal Disease and Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease in which high levels, rare sugar found in the blood due to inadequate use the body makes insulin (a hormone created in the pancreas to produce energy). There are two forms of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2. People with type 1 diabetes produce little or no insulin.

Those with type 2 diabetes produce normal or slightly elevated amounts of insulin but the body has become resistant to its effects, causing a deficiency of insulin. The connection between periodontal disease and diabetes is well documented. Studies have found that periodontal disease is mostly found in diabetics than in nondiabetic individuals. This may be due to the fact that diabetics are more susceptible to infection. In fact, diabetics lose more teeth than non-diabetics.

The researchers are now discovering that periodontal disease may predispose or exacerbate diabetes. A randomized, controlled, periodontal treatment in diabetic patients showed a reduction in insulin requirements after periodontal treatment. In a prolonged study of diabetes and periodontal disease showed that severe periodontitis may represent a major risk factor for progression of diabetes, so physicians should consider the periodontal status of diabetic patients with difficulties in controlling glycemic.

Research has shown that diabetes becomes doubly Hispanic adults (20 years and above) that Americans caucásicos.4 According to information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of Disease:

• At six percent of Hispanic adults in the U.S. and Puerto Rico have been diagnosed with diabetes.
• An estimated six percent more of the Hispanic American population suffers from diabetes but has not been diagnosed
• Approximately 21.4 percent of the Hispanic Americans ages 65 and older have been diagnosed with diabetes and 12 per cent of those between 45 and 64 years and 2.3 percent of people between 18 and 44 years.

With the increasing incidence of diabetes among Hispanic Americans, will require greatly periodontal preventive measures. Maintaining good oral health is simple and the benefits go beyond just the mouth. A Hispanic Americans are advised to talk with their dentist or periodontist about evaluation periodontal and preventive steps to maintain good oral health.