Diabetes complications linked to poorer oral health
People with diabetes are more likely to have periodontitis, which in turn increases the risk of developing diabetes-related complications. This is shown in a study from the University of Gothenburg, which also highlights the importance of good blood sugar control.
The study is published in the scientific journal BMJ Open and is based on national registry data. As the study includes more than 800,000 individuals, it is the largest to date evaluating the link between diabetes and periodontitis (gum disease). It is also the first study to include individuals with type 1 diabetes. The researchers have used data from several Swedish health registries, including the National Diabetes Register.
More frequent periodontitis
People with type 2 diabetes were found to have a significantly increased risk of developing periodontitis: 22 percent had such a diagnosis, compared to 17 percent in the control group. The risk was particularly high among younger individuals with type 2 diabetes, for whom it was nearly doubled when compared to peers without diabetes. For type 1 diabetes, the association was clear only in groups with poor blood sugar control.
“Our results emphasize that it is not just the diabetes diagnosis itself that affects the risk of developing periodontitis. The main driver is poor glycemic control. Among younger individuals with type 2 diabetes, we saw an almost doubled risk, which is a clear warning signal,” says Anna Trullenque Eriksson, doctoral student at the Institute of Odontology and one of the researchers behind the study.
The importance of good blood sugar control
The study shows that periodontitis is linked to an increased risk of diabetes complications, such as damage to the eyes and kidneys. Individuals with type 1 diabetes and poor blood sugar control had a 14 percent higher risk of developing kidney damage if they also suffered from periodontitis, and the same pattern was observed for eye damage. For individuals with type 2 diabetes, the risk of these complications was about 9 percent higher in the presence of periodontal disease.
“This is an important signal to both healthcare providers and patients. Good oral health can be part of the strategy to reduce the risk of severe diabetes complications, and this appears to be particularly important for those who struggle to keep their blood sugar levels under control,” says Anna Trullenque Eriksson.
In the study, periodontitis was not associated with an increased risk of stroke, cardiovascular disease, or higher mortality in individuals with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
Article: Periodontitis in patients with diabetes and its association with diabetes-related complications. A register-based cohort study; https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-087557