Your mouth and eyes are closely connected to diabetes health. Paying attention to them, and seeing your dentist and eye doctor regularly, helps protect not just your vision and smile, but your overall well-being.”
By Sarah Sharits | Peoria
November is National Diabetes Month, a great time to remember that diabetes affects more than just blood sugar. It is a condition that impacts the whole body, including circulation, nerve function, immune system and blood vessels.
Diabetes happens when the body cannot use sugar properly. This can be because the body doesn’t make enough insulin (Type 1) or because it can’t use insulin effectively (Type 2). When blood sugar stays high, it can lead to many health problems including your teeth and eyes.
Because the smallest blood vessels are found in the gums and in the back of the eye (the retina), changes from diabetes often show up there first. That is why dentists and eye doctors are often among the first to spot the early warning signs.
Diabetes and the mouth
Diabetes increases the risk of gum disease in several ways. First, high sugar levels in saliva fuel the growth of certain types of bacteria. This speeds up the formation of thicker, more harmful plaque, increasing inflammation in the mouth.
Second, when the body is already working to process extra sugar, it has a harder time fighting infection. The gums become less capable of fighting infection and tissue breakdown occurs more easily.
Third, many people with diabetes have less saliva, which decreases the mouth’s natural ability to wash away bacteria from the teeth and gumline. A dry mouth means less saliva to neutralize the oral pH resulting in a more acidic oral environment giving cavity-causing bacteria an ideal environment to grow.
As gum disease progresses, inflammation spreads deeper into the tissues that support the teeth. That inflammation doesn’t stay in the mouth — it affects the whole body. The chemicals your body releases to fight gum infection travel through the bloodstream and gut which can lead to other health problems especially if your immune system is already weak.
Diabetes and the eyes
Because the mouth and eyes share blood vessels and immune pathways, it makes sense that those with gum disease and/or diabetes are at greater risk of developing problems with their eyes too.
High blood sugar can cause damage to tiny blood vessels, weakening the walls and making them more likely to leak or close off. When this happens in the retina, the cells responsible for the light-sensing part of the eye no longer receive a steady supply of nutrients and oxygen.
The body attempts to fix this by growing new vessels, but these new vessels are fragile, irregular and bleed easily. This is called diabetic retinopathy, the most common eye disease caused by diabetes.
As retinopathy gets worse, fluid can also accumulate in the macula, the part of the eye responsible for sharp, central vision. That swelling distorts sight and can cause blind spots or blurred areas.
Diabetes also causes proteins to build up inside the lens of the eye more quickly, which is why cataracts are more common in adults with diabetes and often develop earlier in life. Similarly, changes in blood flow can increase pressure inside the eye, raising the risk of glaucoma and optic nerve damage.
Hidden dangers
All these changes happen slowly and without pain. Vision can seem normal while microscopic damage is already taking place. That is why regular, dilated eye exams are so important for catching problems early and protecting vision long-term.
The same goes for oral health. Bleeding when you brush or floss, or a change in how your teeth fit together, can be early signs of gum disease.
Gum disease weakens the tissue that supports your teeth, and if untreated, can cause tooth loss. It also lets bacteria enter your bloodstream, making diabetes harder to manage. Any bleeding is a warning sign — so brush, floss and visit your dentist regularly to keep your mouth and health safe.
Research shows that treating gum disease can help control blood sugar. This means HbA1c numbers may go down, which can lower your chances of eye problems from diabetes and reduce your risk of losing your eyesight.
That is no doubt, your mouth and eyes are closely connected to diabetes health. Paying attention to them, and seeing your dentist and eye doctor regularly, helps protect not just your vision and smile, but your overall well-being.
Editor’s note: Sarah Sharits is corporate communications manager at Scottsdale-based Delta Dental of Arizona.Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
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