The irony of the moment is that November is Diabetes Awareness Month. Or was it genius planning? One thing is for sure; November has many temptations and treats. Coming on the heels of Halloween, there is Thanksgiving followed closely by Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year’s Eve and Day. With all these holidays, there is sure to be lots of parties and eating. Since diabetes and food choices are closely related, it is important to consider what you are eating during all these holidays. Let’s take a look at some tips for eating healthier and better for your diabetic lifestyle.

A major risk factor for developing Type 2 diabetes is obesity and being overweight. Nearly 26 million Americans have diabetes and there are another 79 million are pre-diabetic. With that high number, it’s important to watch your eating during the holiday season. Holiday eating can cause many issues with blood sugar for your diabetic system.

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Among diabetic patients, doctors say that males have a tendency to have more complications or problems related to diabetes than women do. According to the findings of the American Diabetes Association, among the males who develop the disease before they reach the age of 30, it is more likely that they will develop diabetic retinopathy. This condition is a complication of diabetes that can lead to blindness. Retinopathy is a medical term that refers to a certain kind of non-inflammatory damage to an individual’s retina. Diabetic retinopathy has four stages.  During the first stages of the disease, this condition may not be noticeable. This is one of many reasons why men who have diabetes mellitus need to consult an EENT (eye, ear, nose, throat) specialist or an ophthalmologist so that they can be checked for if they have this condition.

Aside from having a higher risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, diabetic males who suffer from peripheral vascular disease are two to three times more likely to encounter stroke, coronary heart disease, or cardiac failure. Peripheral vascular disease is a medical condition wherein the blood vessels in the legs and feet narrow or harden which leads to decreased and inefficient blood circulation.

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A large percent of Americans are able to visit their dentist at least once every six months. These Americans can get more than just a teeth cleaning at their next checkup. Methods have been developed to help dentist across the world check their patients for not only plaque and tartar build up, but diabetes too. Patients who are not even concerned about diabetes or the prevention of diabetes could be at risk because of bad dental hygiene habits.

Checking with your dentist regularly is not only important to having healthy teeth, but also can be a way to detect early stage diabetes. The College of Dental Medicine researchers had found evidence that shows that most folks who have deep pockets around the gum of their teeth have pre-diabetes or diabetes.  Missing teeth is another factor that is helping dentists across the nation aid in the diagnosis of diabetes. Deep periodontal pockets around the teeth are the number one sign dentist look for when diagnosing diabetes through dental exams. Most of the people who suffer from these pockets have at least one other contributing factor like obesity or a family history of diabetes or pre-diabetes. Pre-diabetes is a condition where glucose levels in the blood are high, but not generally high enough to be considered full-fledged diabetes.

Continue reading “Diagnosing Diabetes in Dental Exams: Links Between Gum Disease and Diabetes” »