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Periodontal disease
Periodontal diseases are serious bacterial infections that destroy the attachment fibers and supporting bone that hold your teeth in your mouth. When this happens, gums separate from the teeth, forming pockets that fill with plaque and infection. As the disease progresses, these pockets deepen even further, more gum tissue and bone are destroyed and the teeth eventually become loose.
Periodontal Disease Contributes to Hearth Disease and Stroke
People with periodontal disease face nearly twice the risk of heart disease as people with healthy gums. Also, additional studies have pointed to a relationship between periodontal disease and stroke. Doctors aren't sure why people with gum disease get more heart disease. The mouth can be a major source of chronic or permanent release of toxic bacterial components in the bloodstream during normal oral functions, so one theory is that bacteria from the mouth enter the bloodstream through inflamed gums and cause small blood clots that contribute to clogged arteries. Also researchers found diseased gums released higher levels of bacterial components into the bloodstream in patients with severe gum disease compared to healthy patients. As a result, these harmful components in the blood could travel to other organs in the body, such as the heart, and cause harm.
Treatment
nSome dentists recommend gum treatment - scaling - which involves cleaning the root surfaces to remove plaque and tartar. nOr, your dentist may recommend periodontal (gum) surgery.
Brushing and Flossing
It has been found that DILIGENT brushing and flossing can help prevent gum disease and the secret is in the technique. nMost people brush for fewer than 30 seconds, but you should brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day.
Massage
nAnother means of prevention involves massaging the gums with a soft toothbrush. Hold the brush against your gums at a 45-degree angle and lightly massage them with short, circular strokes. For best protection, do it for the full two minutes.
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Diabetes
Treatment and Care
The treatment regimens needed to achieve and maintain near-normal, or good, blood sugar control differ for type 1 and type 2 diabetes. However, your treatment goal, regardless of which type of diabetes you have, is to keep your blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible in order to prevent damage to your eyes, kidneys, heart, nerves, and blood vessels.
Type 1 ‑ Insulin Replacement
Insulin is the foundation of therapy for people with type 1 diabetes. Insulin cannot be taken orally so it must be injected, usually several times a day. Inhaled, oral, and skin-patch delivery systems are being studied, but are not currently approved for general use. Diet and exercise are also integral to treatment because both affect blood sugar levels and insulin requirements.
The goal of insulin replacement is to mimic the levels normally supplied by the pancreas. This means maintaining a small, stable quantity in your bloodstream between meals and taking a larger, measured dose with meals to limit the increase in blood sugar that would otherwise occur.
Your doctor initially determines the insulin regimen, including the pattern of injections and the number of doses, by looking at your blood glucose, diet, and activity levels. Higher blood sugar, bigger meals, and low amounts of activity require more insulin, while lower blood sugar, smaller meals, and increased activity require less.
Because food, activity, and medications all influence your blood sugar and because they affect each individual differently, it's important to perform frequent checks. By providing a snapshot of blood sugar at a given time, self-monitoring gives you the information you need to tailor your treatment plan. For example, as your blood sugar fluctuates, you can adjust the doses and timing of insulin throughout the day and better maintain your target blood sugar levels.
Type 2
A combination of abnormalities is responsible for type 2 diabetes. The first is probably insulin resistance, a condition in which body cells become less responsive to insulin. Therefore, the body must secrete more insulin to maintain normal metabolism. Insulin resistance, which is very common, doesn't cause type 2 diabetes by itself. The pancreas supplies too little insulin to keep up with the increased demand that occurs with insulin resistance. Blood sugar levels rise, resulting in type 2 diabetes. People with type 2 diabetes can be treated with therapies that decrease insulin demand, including diet, exercise, and medications.
Being overweight and failing to get enough exercise are major culprits of type 2 diabetes. Of the approximately 1.3 million Americans who will develop type 2 diabetes this year, about 90% are overweight or obese. Exactly how weight contributes to insulin resistance is a puzzle waiting to be solved. Recent studies have suggested that fat cells are not merely passive storage sites. Fat cells produce fatty acids and secrete proteins which interfere with the secretion and action of insulin in the body.
In addition to people who are overweight or sedentary, people over age 65 or who have a family history of type 2 diabetes are at particularly high risk. Women who develop diabetes during pregnancy also have a high risk. Gestational diabetes usually disappears after delivery, but as many as 50% of women who have this form of diabetes go on to develop permanent type 2 diabetes, often within 10 years of their pregnancy. Because the vast majority of people with type 2 are overweight and extra pounds can exacerbate or even cause the disease, the first line of treatment is weight loss. For many people, dropping only a modest amount (10 pounds, for example) may be all that's needed to help reduce insulin resistance, restore insulin secretion, and keep blood sugar levels within the normal range, at least initially. A long-term plan for diet and exercise is also crucial.
Diabetics' Feet Need Special Care
If you're diabetic, you're more prone to foot problems, including infection and reduced blood flow. To minimize your risk, here are suggestions from the American Diabetes Association:
- Call your doctor if you notice any changes in your feet, such as color, cuts, ingrown toenails, loss of feeling or pain.
- Wash your feet every day, and dry them well -- especially between toes. Also apply a light lotion over the tops and bottoms of your feet.
- Keep your toenails well trimmed.
- Don't walk around barefoot -- always wear comfortable, properly-fitting shoes and socks.
- Keep feet well protected from the cold, and be careful not to burn them in hot bath water.
- Help circulation in your feet by not crossing your legs for long periods. Wiggle your toes and flex your ankles throughout the day.
10 Ways to Avoid Complications
1. Have a general physical each year
2. Get a yearly eye exam
3. See your dentist twice a year
4. Keep your vaccinations up-to-date
5. Take care of your feet (see information above)
6. Don't smoke
7. Take a daily aspirin for reduction of heart attack and stroke
8. Monitor your blood pressure
9. Monitor your blood sugar
10. Manage your stress
It all adds up
Members of your diabetes care team - doctor, diabetes nurse educator and dietitian, for example - will encourage and help you to live healthy with diabetes. But make sure you take good care of yourself to prevent and minimize diabetes complications. After all, no one has a greater stake in your health than you.
(Taken from Diabetics Care article)
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