As Portland gum disease treatment patients know, gum disease can contribute to the development of a range of chronic health problems. One of the most compelling links that researchers have discovered is the connection between gum disease and diabetes. In fact, Adults that suffer from type-2 diabetes and microvascular complications have an increased risk for severe periodontitis compared to those without microvascular complications, reports the results of a new study.

Poor glycemic control has also been linked with prevalence and severity of periodontitis in adults with type-2 diabetes, according to researchers. The bigger question, however, is what comes first. Does diabetes cause periodontitis or does periodontitis increase our individual risk of diabetes? In recent years, the journal Diabetes In Control has published between 12 to 15 articles on the subject.

Exploring the Link Between Gum Disease & Diabetes

In this most recent study, researchers in Japan examined over 600 adults suffering from type-2 diabetes to determine the potential association between glycemic control, microvascular complications, and periodontitis.

Overall, more than 34 percent of participants had retinopathy, over 25 percent had nephropathy, and 29 percent neuropathy. Half of all participants had at least microvascular complications. Glycemic control was poor in over 47 percent of participants, fair in 24 percent, good in 21 percent, and excellent in just 6 percent.

Compared to study participants without microvascular complications, participants with all three microvascular complications had a higher prevalence of periodontitis, but no major difference was found for the prevalence of periodontitis between study participants without microvascular complications and those with one or two.

Severe cases of periodontitis were more common in participants with three microvascular complications (49 percent) compared with those with one (38 percent) or two (37 percent). Study participants with two or three microvascular complications suffered from more severe periodontitis complications when compared to patients without complications.

Study participants who suffered from poor glycemic control had a greater prevalence of periodontitis (71 percent) compared with participants with excellent glycemic control. Severe periodontitis was more common in participants with poor glycemic control (40 percent) compared with those with fair glycemic control (28 percent), good glycemic control (28 percent) and excellent glycemic control (28 percent). Participants with good, fair, and poor glycemic control had more severe periodontitis complications when compared with those who enjoyed excellent glycemic control.

Studies suggest that controlling periodontal disease can play a vital role in the control of diabetes. This makes it necessary for patients to better understand the symptoms and signs of diabetes, and understand the importance of maintaining periodontal health for anyone suffering from diabetes.

A number of other studies have discovered a positive relationship between poor glycemic control in individuals with type-2 and an increased rate of periodontitis. A recent 5-year study found increased attachment loss in kids with diabetes, whereas non-diabetic subjects enjoyed stable attachment levels.

Another study of more than 1,400 individuals discovered that those with diabetes have a 2.3 times higher risk for attachment loss. In 48 different studies on kids with type 1 diabetes, all but one of the studies found an increased prevalence of periodontal disease when compared to kids without diabetes. Of eight studies that only examined patients suffering from type-2 diabetes, all found significantly worse periodontal health in patients with diabetes. Furthermore, after compensating for additional risk factors, the odds of developing periodontitis for individuals with diabetes was 2 ½ to 4 times greater.

Clearly research has shown that controlling periodontal disease plays a vital role in the long-term control of diabetes. This makes it important that Portland gum disease treatment patients understand the symptoms and signs of diabetes, and understand the importance of maintaining quality oral hygiene for anyone who suffers from diabetes.