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This website is dedicated to the subject of Diabetes as it relates to Dentistry and Dental issues. Please check back regularly as new articles and links are added. |
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Relationship found between diabetes, Alzheimer's disease WASHINGTON - Two scourges that people encounter as they get old, Alzheimer's disease and diabetes, appear to be significantly related, scientists said Monday. The observation, stronger than previous studies suggesting a relationship between the two diseases, came from a 5 1/2-year study of 824 aging Roman Catholic nuns, brothers and priests. Annual evaluations of the volunteers indicated that those who had diabetes were 65 percent more likely to develop Alzheimer's than those who did not, said researchers from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. The study did not show that everyone with Alzheimer's had diabetes, or that everyone with diabetes would get Alzheimer's. But it did produce "a powerful argument for doing everything you can to control your blood sugar," said William Thies, vice president of the Alzheimer's Association. Neil Buckholtz, head of the Dementias of Aging Branch in the National Institute on Aging, which funded the study, called the findings "intriguing." "Further research, some currently under way, will tell us whether therapies for diabetes may in fact play a role in lowering risk of Alzheimer's disease or cognitive decline," he said. The research relied on the participation of nearly 1,000 nuns, priests and brothers from Catholic orders around the country. Volunteers are evaluated annually and have agreed to donate their bodies for further research after they die, said Dr. Zoe Arvanitakis, a neurologist and lead author of an article about the study in the Archives of Neurology. |
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ADA - Diabetes and Dental Care ADA - Colgate Diabetes and Gum Disease Campaign Dental Implants and the Diabetic Patient Dentistry for Diabetic Patients ADG - What is Periodontal Disease? ADG - At Risk for Diabetes? Warning Signs Diabetes and Periodontal Disease Connection Periodontal Disease and Diabetes |
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Dental Considerations for the Treatment of Patients with Diabetes |
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If you still think it's just a cleaning! If you still think it's just a cleaning, think again. Share these three, current studies with your patients. They offer strong evidence about the impact of periodontal infection on the human body. 0 Journal of Clinical Periodontology (Dec. 2003) — Japanese researchers examined and measured the oral health of 7,452 men and women, and test- ed their blood for 37 different items used in general blood tests. Items tested included cholesterol, C-reactive protein (CRP — commonly linked to heart disease), and diabetes. The results were com- pared to the oral-health scores of the participants. The- study found that, generally, if the blood was "healthy," the oral health was healthy. Conversely, if the blood test detected certain "red flags," the person also had serious symptoms of periodontal diseases. It also found that males had more serious symptoms of periodontal diseases in the same age group. A specific reason could not be identified, however researchers are suggesting differences in endocrine conditions between men and women. The only item in the blood test that showed a significant relationship with periodontal diseases and women was CRP. @ Journal of Periodontology (Aug. 2 003) — CRP values were compared before and after periodontal treatment. Researchers found that CRP values significantly decreased after periodontal treatment. Since the treatment of periodontitis in this study appears to be effective in reducing CRP levels, patients at risk for coronary heart disease may want to visit a periodontist to control their periodontitis. (Source: AAP) ® Study: "Gum disease raises death risk in diabetes" — Severe gum disease may hasten death in people with diabetes, new study findings suggest. This study was presented at the American Diabetes Association Meeting in New Orleans (Reuters Health News, July 2003). "Diabetic people with periodontal disease had increased death rates due to cardiovascular disease and renal (kidney) failure, which are two major complications of Type 2 diabetes," said study author Dr. William C. Knowler. The findings underscore the need for good oral hygiene in diabetics who are particularly prone to periodontitis or gum disease, Knowler said in an interview with Reuters Health. Studies have indicated that infections and inflammation can promote blood vessel \ damage in the heart and kidneys, said Knowler, chief of the diabetes and arthritis epidemiology section of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases in Phoenix. While gum disease might not be diagnosed until mid-life or later, infection with the bacteria that cause it can occur decades earlier. Combined with years of Inadequate oral hygiene, infection can result in gingivitis, an early form of gum disease characterized by inflamed gums that often bleed easily. As the more aggressive periodontitis develops, the gums and bone surrounding the teeth can become seriously damaged, and teeth may loosen or fall out. After adjusting for factors such as age, sex, duration of diabetes, obesity, and cholesterol levels, the researchers found that diabetics with severe gum disease were twice as likely as those without it to die from either heart disease or kidney failure. In addition to making sure your patients are aware of the latest information and research, consider formulating an action plan beginning with these questions:
Annette Ashley Linder, BS,RHD Annefte Ashley Under, BS, RDH, is a recognized leader in the field and on award-winning speaker and consultant. Since 1989, she has presented more than 350 seminars and consult- ed in dental practices throughout the world. She is a featured speaker at dental meetings and provides in-office consulting services with her team of business and clinical consultants. She may be reached at her Web site at AnnetteLinder.com, via email at Annette@annettelinder.com, or by phone at (804) 745-6015. dentaleconomics.com, July 2004 |
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