There are 347 million people with diabetes worldwide. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you may know that the disease comes with alarming complications such as stroke, heart disease and kidney failure. But did you know that diabetics are also at special risk for periodontal (gum) disease?
How are diabetes and gum disease related?
Diabetes reduces the body’s resistance to infection and slows down healing process. This is why oral infections tend to be more severe in people with diabetes. Moreover, people with uncontrolled diabetes tend to have more oral health problems. This is because uncontrolled diabetes impairs leukocytes (white blood cells), the body’s primary defense against infections.
