A study published in the Cochrane Library suggests that the treatment of serious gum (periodontal) disease in diabetics with Type 2 diabetes may lower their blood sugar levels.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh, supported by colleagues at the Peninsula Dental School, the University of Ottawa and UCL Eastman Dental Institute, analysed randomised controlled trials of people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes who had also been diagnosed with periodontal disease. The team looked at 690 papers and included seven studies in the review that fulfilled pre-specified criteria for inclusion. Their findings suggest that the treatment of periodontal disease can reduce blood sugar levels in Type 2 diabetes, although there was not enough available evidence to support the same benefit for those with Type 1 diabetes.
