Detecting diabetes in people who don'the know they have it can save lives and organ damage. I think this is a great idea!
1
I'm not a big fan of this kind of trend ... impromptu medical screening for everyone, often in settings where no is qualified to interpret the results. The last time I had my teeth cleaned, the hygienist took my blood pressure (using a wrist monitor) and pulse, told me they were a little high and I should see a doctor about it. I had just ridden my bicycle to the dentist's office in cold weather (exercise and cold temperatures both temporarily increase blood pressure, especially a reading at the wrist where vessels would be constricted.) The hygienist insisted that I could have hypertension and that I should see a doctor. Dental professionals, please stick to diagnosing dental health problems only. It would be appropriate for a dentist to mention that periodontal disease can be associated with type 2 diabetes, but the fingerstick testing seems like a bad idea.
9
As a dentist I agree with Karl. The study, first of all, had too many variables to draw any scientific conclusions. Second, dentists are not trained (in my state nor are we licensed) to practice medicine and we could create as much harm as good. The safest bet for dentists is to watch and monitor oral health. If all else is stable and in balance in a patient's life and at the same time there appears a marked increase in gum disease or decay that is 'out of the norm', that is an indicator something is wrong with the body, i.e. possible diabetes. I have had the luxury of helping a couple of patients confirm an previously unknown diagnosis of diabetes that way. So as per Hunte's comment below, pay attention to your body and health and if something suddenly changes, take the appropriate steps to heal, correct or eliminate the condition.
6
More info is always a good thing.
While I think a spot glucose test is unnecessary, having dentists inform patients that their gum issues may be related to diabetes is a great idea.
People who go to the dentist are usually educated and proactive types; giving them more info could only help.
While I think a spot glucose test is unnecessary, having dentists inform patients that their gum issues may be related to diabetes is a great idea.
People who go to the dentist are usually educated and proactive types; giving them more info could only help.
2
My current dentist takes my blood pressure before all procedures--even cleaning. That really surprised me in the beginning. I am not obese, and in fact, I have lower blood pressure than my dentist, according to him.
I am not sure how many dentists would be on board with testing for diabetes. Although I am pre-diabetic, I get annoyed with the constant pressure to "eat healthy" and do everything else to prevent full-blown diabetes. I don't eat sugar, get exercise, etc. but family history, autoimmune illness (and rising A1C) don't seem to be on my side.
I appreciate the work dentists do in terms of keeping a person aware of health issues (checking for signs of mouth cancer, etc.), but they themselves may say "enough" and let us concentrate on oral care.
I am not sure how many dentists would be on board with testing for diabetes. Although I am pre-diabetic, I get annoyed with the constant pressure to "eat healthy" and do everything else to prevent full-blown diabetes. I don't eat sugar, get exercise, etc. but family history, autoimmune illness (and rising A1C) don't seem to be on my side.
I appreciate the work dentists do in terms of keeping a person aware of health issues (checking for signs of mouth cancer, etc.), but they themselves may say "enough" and let us concentrate on oral care.
4
Norton--18 years ago, I was very lucky to have experienced life with diabetes. Mine was gestational, which meant that it was likely to go away after I gave birth (likely, but not guaranteed).
I was diagnosed right after Thanksgiving. It was solely up to me to keep my baby healthy and safe as she developed for 12+ weeks.
Here's why I consider myself lucky: I got to experience up-close-and-firsthand how annoying diabetes really is. The constant finger pricks (4 times a day), the weekly check-ups at the endocrinologist, the food diaries, the strict portion control, the need to schedule my life so that I ate the right foods at the right times (6 almonds at 3 pm), followed by yet another finger prick...
I was also lucky, though, to see how quickly I adapted. The first week was stressful and rough (but I was also pregnant and had a toddler), the second week less so, and after that I didn't even feel hungry or deprived. In fact, I started to feel better than I had ever felt.
Because I had gestational diabetes, I am at higher risk for Type 2. My doctor told me the "magic bullet" was exercise every single day. I am very active. I also limit carbs and calories.
Ultimately, your health is up to you. Feel free to eat unhealthily if that's what you want, but know that actual diabetes is incredibly annoying.
I was diagnosed right after Thanksgiving. It was solely up to me to keep my baby healthy and safe as she developed for 12+ weeks.
Here's why I consider myself lucky: I got to experience up-close-and-firsthand how annoying diabetes really is. The constant finger pricks (4 times a day), the weekly check-ups at the endocrinologist, the food diaries, the strict portion control, the need to schedule my life so that I ate the right foods at the right times (6 almonds at 3 pm), followed by yet another finger prick...
I was also lucky, though, to see how quickly I adapted. The first week was stressful and rough (but I was also pregnant and had a toddler), the second week less so, and after that I didn't even feel hungry or deprived. In fact, I started to feel better than I had ever felt.
Because I had gestational diabetes, I am at higher risk for Type 2. My doctor told me the "magic bullet" was exercise every single day. I am very active. I also limit carbs and calories.
Ultimately, your health is up to you. Feel free to eat unhealthily if that's what you want, but know that actual diabetes is incredibly annoying.
1
I find that young dentists (<35 years old) are especially prone to such exams. And guess what - they usually find something. My dentist gave me a referral after saying he found a strange growth on my inner lip. Instead I went to the local hospital oral clinic (covered fully by my Medicare) and was told not to worry.
1
Honeybee, as I mentioned in my post, I do NOT eat sugar and I do eat a healthy diet. That, however, does not mean I will never get diabetes (runs very strongly in my family). Yeah, I do know how "incredibly annoying" Type 2 is: my father, who ate healthy and exercised died from diabetic complications, my aunt had amputations due to Type2.
I limit carbs, am active, etc. That does not mean I will never get Type2--it's a fallacy that just because you do everything right, you will never get diabetes. I wish people would stop promoting that myth.
I limit carbs, am active, etc. That does not mean I will never get Type2--it's a fallacy that just because you do everything right, you will never get diabetes. I wish people would stop promoting that myth.
3
I was diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes and put on Metformin on June 26th, 2016. I started the ADA diet and followed it 100% for a few weeks and could not get my blood sugar to go below 140. Finally I began to panic and called my doctor, he told me to get used to it. He said I would be on metformin my whole life and eventually insulin. At that point i knew something wasn't right and began to do lots of research. On August 13th I found Lisa’s story http://mydiabetesday.com/i-finally-reversed-my-diabetes/ I read that article from end to end because everything the writer was saying made absolute sense. I started the diet that day and the next morning my blood sugar was down to 100 and now i have a fasting blood sugar between Mid 70's and the 80's. My doctor took me off the metformin after just three week of being on this lifestyle change. I have lost over 30 pounds and 6+ inches around my waist in a month. The truth is we can get off the drugs and help myself by trying natural methods
11
Congratulations Hunte! Your comment is testimony that we all need to be our own health advocate. I would be curious what your doctor said after you were able to get off the metformin.
3
Good for you. That is how medicine should be practiced...do everything you can to heal yourself; use us doctors as a later resort. We have much more capability at self healing than most people know.
1
Hunte, Lisa claims to have "cured" her diabetes rather than having controlled it: This is a false and dangerous concept. Further, her site links to the super sketchy "International Council for Truth in Medicine." Perhaps your lifestyle was so abysmal that you benefited from "Lisa's story," but most people should look elsewhere.
4
A dentist isn't qualified to diagnose or treat diabetes, and having dentists provide a spot glucose check every time they see gum disease is the wrong approach. A spot blood glucose reading won't diagnose diabetes unless it is over 200. Someone could easily have diabetes and have a normal blood glucose reading at that moment. Diabetes screening should be performed by a medical provider who is qualified to interpret the result and provide treatment if necessary. The way to diagnose diabetes is with an A1C test not with a spot blood glucose check via a finger stick. If you let dentists do these spot glucose tests then I'm sure people who might in fact have diabetes might think their dentist told them they don't have diabetes so now they don't need to worry about it. Since the finger stick test is not conclusive what's the point? If an eye doctor finds signs of retinopathy during an exam, they will tell the patient to see a doctor and get screened for diabetes - they won't try to give a blood test and diagnose diabetes! Let dentists simply educate patients that gum disease might occur with diabetes, and if they have never been screened then they should be screened by an appropriate medical provider.
20
Not necessarily a great idea, because many people with serious tooth problems are forced by circumstance to eat mushy high-carb foods on a temporary basis, so someone needs to consider how to avoid creating false positives (but that churn out reimbursable fees/expenses for providers - a situation that in the USA is one of the drivers of health-care overspending)
5