Anwar et al., 2011 article “Associations between Periodontal Disease and Selected Risk Factors of Early Complications Among Youth with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes; A Pilot Study” offers a critical analysis of a wider array of issues on the relationship between periodontal disease and diabetes. Anwar et al., 2011 notes that there exists a specific association between type 2 diabetes and periodontal disease. Based on findings drawn from a pilot study, the current article suggests that the relationship between diabetes and periodontal disease vary depending on the type of diabetes. For this purpose, the current article suggests the need to evaluate the associations between diabetes and periodontal diseases separately.
Associations between periodontal disease and diabetes
Researches carried out in the recent past indicate that the diabetes disease is a predisposing factor to periodontal disease. Precisely, diabetes results in the thickening of blood vessels and this increases the risk for periodontal disease. The thickening of blood vessels hinders the nourishment of body tissues, which weakens the resistance of gums to infections; hence, resulting in periodontal disease (Anwar et al., 2011). In line with this, the current article notes that past researches have often explored the relationship between periodontal disease and diabetes type 1. As such, the link between diabetes type 2 and periodontal disease has not been explored.
Notably, the current article suggests that periodontal damage amongst persons with type 2 diabetes is influence by certain factors such as race whereby African American’s with type 2 diabetes exhibit higher levels of periodontal damage. This assertion confirms earlier published reports on the increased prevalence of periodontal disease amongst diabetic African Americans. Another association between diabetes and periodontal disease and diabetes aligns with the fact that bacteria responsible for the occurrence of periodontal disease thrive on glucose. Therefore, the primary fact that persons with diabetes have poor glucose control makes them more predisposed to periodontal disease.
New information gained from the current article
Anwar et al., 2011 offers critical insights on the association between diabetes and periodontal diseases. As such, I have learned a lot of information from the current article. More importantly, I have that the periodontal disease is related with low High Density Lipoproteins and high triglycerides levels in the body. Diabetes results in metabolic changes, which hinders their ability to utilize nutrients. This hinders nourishment of the gums; hence, resulting in the occurrence of periodontal disease.
I have also learned that glycaemic control is the primary factor that influences the occurrence of periodontal disease amongst diabetic individuals. Speaking of glycaemic control, this connotes to the levels of glucose amongst diabetic patients. For this reason, diabetics who can control their blood glucose levels in an adequate manner are less predisposed to periodontal disease. Poorly controlled blood glucose levels increase the levels of glucose in the mouth fluids; hence, providing an ample platform in which germs can thrive and allow for the development of periodontal disease.
Conclusion
Reference
Anwar, M., Monica, J., Youn-Hee, C., Elaine, M., Angela, L., and Elizabeth, M. (2011). Associations between Periodontal Disease and Selected Risk Factors of Early Complications among Youth with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes; a Pilot Study. Paediatric Diabetes, 12, 529-535.
