Approximately 10.5% of
the U.S. population has type 2 diabetes. Managing diabetes is difficult and
requires carefully monitoring blood sugar and a lifestyle balance comprised of
healthy eating, exercise, and regular check-ups with primary care physicians.
Patients with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing periodontal disease.
Young adults with diabetes are twice as likely to develop periodontal diseases
as young adults without diabetes. According to the American Academy of
Periodontology, this statistic is staggering because people with diabetes are
more susceptible to contracting infections, and periodontal diseases may create
additional barriers for controlling blood sugar levels. Dentists, as part of
multidisciplinary team-based care, can assist patients at risk for or who have
diabetes.
The last Tuesday of
March is Diabetes Alert Day; this year it falls on March 27. The American
Diabetes Association Alert Day is a “call-to-action” asking the American people
to take the Diabetes
Risk Test to find out if they are at risk for developing type 2
diabetes. In 2017, for the first time, the American
Diabetes Association’s Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes included
a “Screening in Dental Practices” section to improve chairside screening and
referral to primary care for diagnosing diabetes. Diabetes screening can also
be taught to dental students. For example, through a pilot program started in
2014, the University of Maryland School of Dentistry taught second-year dental
students how to measure the blood glucose levels of university dental clinic
patients. Moreover, the University of Maryland also offers continuing education
for dentists on medical billing for oral health services and billable
procedures for diabetes screenings. Through these efforts, dentists and dental
educators have become a stronger force in mitigating the increase of diabetes
through screening and referral. Take action and get screened for diabetes on
March 27!
Published on March 14, 2018