Jo's Cafe

Oh man – this comes along just as I’m dealing with periodontal stuff.  I’ve always had bad teeth.  For as long as I can remember, I’ve lived in a dental chair. 

I have lost a good many teeth over the years; starting when I was hyper-thyroid and now my gums are going bad – because of my diabetes.

I have several teeth with gaps requiring surgery – the final number will be determined on the 7th of November.  I need 6 crowns replaced, but the dentist won’t touch them until I have periodontal treatment.

Diabetics – go see your dentist.

Patients with Type 2 diabetes and periodontal disease who receive periodontal therapy see levels of oxidative stress, a condition in which antioxidant levels are lower than normal, reduced to the same levels as nondiabetic patients, according to a new study that appeared in the November issue of the Journal of Periodontology (JOP).

Researchers from Kyushu Dental College in Kitakyushu, Japan investigated the impact of periodontal therapy on patients with Type 2 diabetes, as compared to nondiabetic patients. They found that periodontal therapy decreased lipid peroxide (LPO), an oxidative stress index, in diabetic patients.

“Our research emphasized one of the benefits of having periodontal therapy for patients with diabetes,” said Dr. Kazuo Sonoki, M.D. PhD at Kyushu Dental College, one of the study authors. “However, this was just a preliminary study and more research should be conducted to evaluate how periodontal disease affects both people with and without diabetes.”

It has been found that diabetes and periodontal disease can lead to atherosclerosis, which occurs when deposits of fatty substances, cholesterol, and other substances build up in the inner lining of an artery. This buildup is called plaque. It has been thought that oxidative stress is linked to heart disease because oxidation of LDL (low-density lipoprotein) in the endothelium is a precursor to plaque formation. Recently, oxidative stress has emerged as an important factor for atherosclerosis in patients with diabetes.  Source

Jo’s Morning Glucose Reading:  79