WebMD Health News is reporting a summary of available research showing that taking care of your gums may be one of the best things you can do for your health if you have diabetes.

Poorly controlled diabetes has long been recognized as a major risk factor for gum disease, but there is a growing body of research suggesting that untreated gum disease, in turn, makes diabetes worse.
“This is definitely something the diabetes community needs to know more about,” one researcher said. “It is now clear that periodontal disease can make diabetes control worse, and there is even some evidence that it increases the risk for diabetes complications.”
Those complications include heart disease, blindness, kidney disease, and amputation.
My Take? Nearly a third of diabetics have been shown to have severe gum disease. And, since gun disease is often silent, all diabetics should have dental visits at least twice a year. Furthermore, I expect future research to show that preventing or treating gum disease could actually slow down the progression to diabetes in those at high risk of developing the disease.