Periodontal Disease and Diabetes

People with diabetes are more likely to have periodontal disease than people without diabetes. Those people who don't have their diabetes under control are especially at risk. The increased severity of periodontal disease in poorly controlled diabetic patients has been attributed to systemic inflammation and decreased host repair. Research has suggested that the relationship between diabetes and periodontal disease goes both ways - periodontal disease may make it more difficult for people who have diabetes to control their blood sugar. Severe periodontal disease can increase blood sugar, contributing to increased periods of time when the body functions with a high blood sugar. This puts people with diabetes at increased risk for diabetic complications.