Diabetes is a serious health condition characterised by abnormally increased blood sugar levels. This increase in blood sugar levels can occur when the body cannot produce enough insulin (type 1 diabetes) or when the cells in the body become resistant to the action of insulin (type 2 diabetes). Insulin is a hormone that controls the release of sugar from the food we eat, allowing the sugar to pass from the blood stream and into the body’s cells to provide energy.
Type 2 diabetes is by far the more common form of diabetes, and affects 85 to 90 per cent of patients who have diabetes. It is known as a ‘lifestyle disease’ as type 2 diabetes is often related to being inactive or carrying excess weight around the abdomen. The disease tends to run in families.
Research has identified that patients with diabetes are at higher risk of developing Periodontal Disease. Poor control of blood sugar levels can also affect a patient’s response to periodontal treatment and may be a risk factor for the failure of dental implants.
