Diabetes is a disease which is as complex in its origins as it is in the complications it brings about. From your heart, to your kidneys, your eyes and even your nervous system there's barely a part of your body diabetes leaves untouched if mismanaged. To add to this already bludgeoning string of ailments is periodontal disease. As the name suggests, periodontal literally translates into 'around your teeth' and is a chronic bacterial infection that plagues your gums and the bone which supports your teeth. How ever, this ailment is as two-toned as diabetes, not just resulting as an outcome of the disease, but also interfering in the process of diabetes management on the whole. Thus, even as the hapless diabetic grapples with periodontal disease, this infection is further wrecking his management program, making it even harder for him to keep his condition in control.

Periodontal disease first takes root when bacteria begin to develop in the plaque around your teeth. This causes your gum to become inflamed, and can occur in a single tooth, or spread all over your jaw. Diabetics are common prey for periodontal disease as the high glucose levels in their bloodstream allows the bacteria nourishment to feed on. Also, the poor blood circulation most diabetics suffer from further compounds the problem, as the teeth when starved of oxygen and nourishment are quick to contract disease.

Like most other forms of infection, periodontal disease has distinct phases of development, developing into the more mature phases quickly and surreptitiously when given the opportunity to do so. The first stage, where the bacterial infection affects the gums and aggravates them is known as Gingivitis. This phase is relatively easy to overcome and can be dealt with by simply brushing and flossing everyday while also getting your teeth regularly cleaned by your dentist. On the other hand, if these basic measures are not followed, the disease soon proceeds to its next phase, which is a far more difficult one to correct.

At the second phase, the plaque on your teeth grows harder and denser and accumulates under your gums, pulling them away from your teeth. This creates gaps, or pockets of infection that may even destroy the bone anchoring your teeth, leading to tooth loss. The progression from Gingivitis to periodontitis is barely imperceptible and waiting for pain and loose teeth will mean that you have already let this disease advance to its more mature phase. And so, if you do find that your inflammation and bleeding do not subside after meticulous cleaning, it is advisable you visit a periodontist for specialized treatment.

Your dentist, or periodontist as the case may be, will attempt to treat this disease by prying the plaque and infected tissue off your gums and teeth and letting them heal, so that the healthy gum tissue can grow back and cover the pockets. Make sure you follow up this treatment by being meticulous about brushing and flossing regularly, so that the disease does not rebound. If this treatment does prove ineffective, your dentist might have to seek recourse to surgery to treat your gums and extract the disease, so that you don't have to have your infected tooth extracted to secure the remainder of your pearly whites.

As a victim of diabetes, it is essential you discuss your treatment and diabetes control with your dentist, as your insulin dosage and meal schedule may need to be altered as per your periodontal treatment. A more foolproof course of action would be to have your physician talk to your dentist prior to your treatment to ensure that the treatment of one condition does not interfere with that of the other. Your dentist may also recommend that you postpone your periodontal treatment in case your diabetes is poorly managed as it may cause certain challenging complications.

Diabetes also hampers the healing process making it a lot longer than otherwise, especially if you neglect your post-treatment care. The best way to tackle periodontal disease is to curb it, even before it reaches the stage of periodontitis by adhering to the simple guidelines that your dentist lays out for you. Although diabetes may seem to be a harbinger of nothing but diseases and complications, a huge majority of these can be averted simply by keeping your diabetes under control. And so, if you're still among those that let their diabetes get the better of them, it's time to grab the reins yourself. Before you know it, you'll be privy to the myriad avenues life has to offer, with your diabetes management program rendered to just another part of your daily regime that has unconsciously become a way of life for you!