Periodontal disease may be an independent predictor of Type 2 diabetes, according to a new study conducted at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health published in the July 2008 issue of Diabetes Care. While diabetes has long been linked to the incidence of gum disease, this is the first study to explore the reverse; that periodontal infections can be a predictor of the development of diabetes.

What are your thoughts about the discovery of this new link to diabetes?

Does this make you more conscious of your gum health?

I have been having problems with my gums and teeth ever since I have been diagnosed with Diabetes Type 2. It started out eating an evening meal with chicken, mash potatoes and green beans. Then when I took in some mash potatoes all of a sudden I felt something hard in my mouth and thought that I did not mash the potatoes good and so I took my napkin and place what was in my mouth into it and low and behold it was a tooth and of all places it came from was my front tooth, just broke clear past the gum. Ever since then I have been having problems with breakage of my teeth and eventually had to have them removed and plus have to use special prescription mouth rinse and toothpaste because of the gum disease. So, yes I do believe there is a link with gum disease and diabetes.

I agree with you. I definitely think our gum/teeth are windows to our overall health. I know during pregnancy, I became very susceptible to gingivitis. They also say that gum disease can correlate with other conditions such as heart disease. As I've gotten older, I've become obsessed with flossing. I think it helps, but I also think we should use our gum health to alert us to things that might be going on in our bodies.