A new study to be published in the latest issue of The Cochrane Library and reported by EurekAlert suggests that treatment of serious gum (periodontal) disease in type 2 diabetics lowers their blood sugar levels.
The research, lead by researchers at the University of Edinburgh, analyzed randomized controlled trials of people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes who had also been diagnosed with periodontal disease. The team looked at 690 papers and included seven studies in the review that fulfilled pre-specified criteria for inclusion.
Their findings suggest that the treatment of periodontal disease can reduce blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes, although there was not enough available evidence to support the same benefit for those with type 1 diabetes.
Something interesting I found too. The skin on the tips of my fingers was peeling and was incredibly painful and beginning to bleed. They would start to heal and within a couple of days would begin to peel again. Soon after, I was diagnosed with periodontal disease and was subsequently treated for it. The painful peeling on the tips of my fingers went away within just a couple of weeks. I never realized that there was a connection! I have no problems with that now except for when it’s getting close to the time to get my teeth cleaned. My fingers tips will start to peel again, so I quickly make an appt with the dentist and that takes care of the problem!