If your dentist has told you that you have periodontal, or gum diseasethis could be a sign of future blood sugar problems, too. According to a study led by researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, periodontal disease may be an independent predictor of Type 2 diabetes.
Periodontal disease begins when bacteria in your mouth builds up. It causes your gums to become red and swollenand can cause bleeding when you brush. When left untreated, these bacteria can destroy the bone and tissue holding your teeth in place.
Diabetes has long been believed to be a risk factor for periodontal infections. But this is the first study to explore whether the reverse might also be true.
According to a statement from the Mailman School of Public Health, researchers studied more than 9,000 participants without diabetes. They found that 817 patients went on to develop diabetes.
The researchers compared the risk of developing diabetes over the next 20 years between people with different levels of periodontal disease. They found that people with advanced levels of gum disease were nearly twice as likely to become diabetic in that 20-year period.
Even after adjusting for factors such as age, smoking, obesity, hypertension and dietary patternsthe diabetes risk remained.
We found that over two decades of follow-up, individuals who had periodontal disease were more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes later in life when compared to individuals without periodontal disease, said Ryan T. Demmer, Ph.D., M.P.H., associate research scientist in the department of epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health and lead author.
Demmer said more studies are needed to determine whether gum disease directly contributes to Type 2 diabetesand whether treating the dental problem can be a preventive measure.