People with diabetes are more likely to have periodontal disease than people without diabetes. This is because diabetics are more susceptible to contracting infections. In fact, periodontal disease is often considered a major complication of diabetes. Those people who don’t have their diabetes under strict control are especially at risk for periodontal breakdown.
Not only does diabetes affect periodontal disease, but periodontal disease can influence your diabetes by making it more difficult for people who have diabetes to control their blood sugar.
Diabetics have an increased risk of diabetic complications when they have high blood sugar. Treatment of periodontal disease has been shown to result in better diabetic control. This decreases the risks of heart problems, circulatory problems and complications of diabetes that can lead to blindness.