Have a Blessed Thanksgiving!
National Diabetic
Month Back
Warning Signs of Diabetes: All In Your Head?
"Above the Neck" Signs May Help Identify Those at Risk
Approximately 17 million Americans have diabetes
and according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), one-third of
them are unaware they have the disease. This November, during National
Diabetes Awareness Month, the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) want to
educate consumers, especially those unaware they are at risk, that common
warning signs of diabetes could be all in their head-literally. Bad
breath, bleeding gums, blurred vision and many other oral or optic
ailments can be early indicators of diabetes.
Diabetes is a chronic disease in which the body can no
longer produce or use insulin properly. Insulin helps convert certain
foods into glucose, or sugar, for our bodies to use for energy. Without
insulin injections, individuals with diabetes can have a build-up of
sugars in their blood.
There are three major types of the diabetes: Type 1,
Type 2 and Gestational. Ninety to 95 percent of people with diabetes
suffer from Type 2 diabetes. The prevalence of the disease is rising in
the United States as the population ages and more Americans become obese.
Diabetes and the Mouth: What's the Link?
Researchers believe diabetes often manifests itself in the mouth, making
the dentist a key player in diagnosis. Because of high glucose
levels, people with diabetes are more likely to have problems with their
teeth or gums since increased glucose levels can help bacteria thrive.
The increased bacteria combined with a diabetic's inability to resist
infection can lead to gum
disease.
Oral symptoms related to diabetes include:
