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DIABETES & ORAL HEALTH

The Surgeon General's Report on Oral Health states that
Good oral health is integral to general health

Diabetes & Oral Health

.....Good nutrition is important to stay healthy. Almost all foods, nutritious or not, including milk and vegetables, have some type of sugar. Sugars are one form of carbohydrates and are necessary, depending on the kind and the amount, and the number of calories needed for both physical and mental energy. We couldn't live or work without them. Normally, the body needs around 60 to 70 percent of the total calories in the form of carbohydrates.

All the foods we eat are broken down and distributed by the bloodstream. Glucose, the sugar in our blood cells, is carried to all parts of the body. As the sugar gets into the bloodstream, the pancreas releases a hormone called insulin needed to transport sugar from the blood into the body's cells, from where it can be used as an energy source. A sudden increase in the intake of sugar can cause a spike in the blood-sugar level. However, all foods shouldn't be removed from our diets, because many contain important nutrients. To help control the amount of sugar you consume, read food labels and choose foods and beverages that are low in "added sugars."

Diabetes affects how the body uses the food needed for energy. People with diabetes have high blood sugar levels because their pancreas either produces little or no insulin, or the cells do not respond appropriately to the insulin that is produced. Without enough insulin, the glucose stays in the blood. If the glucose cannot get into the cells, it builds up in the blood and overflows into the urine, and passes out of the body, but excess glucose over time can cause health problems related to diabetes such as damage to the eyes, teeth, gums, kidneys and nerves.

The Diabetes Food

Pyramid can help you make wise food choices!

The Diabetes Food Pyramid divides foods into groups, based on what they contain and gives a range of servings. Eat more from the groups at the bottom of the pyramid, and less from the groups at the top. Foods from the starches, fruits, vegetables, and milk groups are highest in carbohydrate. They affect your blood glucose levels the most.

The Diabetes Food Pyramid is a little different from the USDA Food Guide Pyramid because it groups foods based on their carbohydrate and protein content instead of their classification as a food, and makes it easier to remember what to eat.

Eat more from the groups at the bottom of the pyramid, and less from the groups at the top. Foods from the starches, fruits, vegetables, and milk groups are highest in carbohydrate. They affect your blood glucose levels the most.For a healthy meal plan that is based on your individual needs, you should work with a registered dietitian (RD) with expertise in diabetes management.

This is one of many tools that can be used by people who have diabetes or are at risk for developing the disease, to reach their health goals. To learn more about The Diabetes Food Pyramid, please read the article "Using the Diabetes Food Pyramid" adapted by the American Diabetes Association from the book Diabetes Meal Planning Made Easy by visiting: http://www.diabetes.org/nutrition-and-recipes/nutrition/foodpyramid.jsp

For the USDA Food Guide Pyramid visit: http://www.mypyramid.gov/.

Those with diabetes also have lower resistance to infections, reduced capacity for wound healing and slower disease recovery. Although no one knows the cause of diabetes, as it progresses, there can be heart disease complicated by problems of hypertension, stroke and even the need for amputations. Diabetes-associated complications can be prevented, controlled and treated.

The most common oral health problem with diabetes is
GUM DISEASE.

...Gum disease can happen to anyone and can start at any age. People with diabetes, including children and teenagers, are at an increased risk for serious gum disease, because they are generally more susceptible to bacterial infection, and have a decreased ability to fight bacteria that invade the gums. When diabetes is... Continued

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Salud+HealthInfo is for information and educational purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for personal medical attention, diagnosis or hands-on treatment. If you are concerned abut your health or that of a child, please consult your family's physician or health provider immediately and do not try to diagnose yourself. Salud+Health Info is published and distributed free of charge by Info Option Network (ION) Publishing Company. Copyright © 2001-2011 Info Option Network

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