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Dentists may be critical in the process of identifying diabetes.
That’s because many cases of diabetes go undetected. But if a dentist sees a patient with periodontal disease, the person may have diabetes since periodontal disease is an early symptom of diabetes. There are also many dental patients who complain about issues that are often associated with diabetes.
If a person has deep periodontal pockets to go with missing teeth, it may be enough evidence for the dentist to suggest the patient go for some diabetes tests.
According to statistics, about one of four Americans has an undiagnosed case of type 2 diabetes. If undetected for a long period of time, the condition can worsen. If a person has type 2 diabetes, he or she is at a higher risk for strokes or heart disease.
Type 2 diabetes can be managed effectively if diagnosed early. Health officials want to raise awareness about the symptoms associated with type 2 diabetes to increase early detection. If dentists could aid in this process, it would be beneficial for everyone because a large amount of people see their dentist more often than they see their doctor.
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