Diabetes

The incidence of diabetes is rising at an alarming rate. In 2000, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported the prevalence of diabetes was 171 million people worldwide. It is projected that in 2030 that number will increase to 366 million people.¹ In the United States alone there are more than 20 million people (7%) with diabetes In Canada there are more than 2 million (6%) people and the United Kingdom has approximately 2.3 million (3.6%).^{2, 3}

The majority (90% - 95%) of people living with diabetes have type 2. Type 2 diabetes accounts for the majority of increase in new cases.⁴ The rise can be attributed to following factors:

Longer lifespan
Changes in the diagnostic criteria
Rise in obesity

Type 2 diabetes becomes more common as people age, afflicting one in five people aged 60 and older. One of the most important risk factors is obesity which accounts for about 70% of the risk for type 2. The obesity epidemic is largely attributed to increased calorie intake and a sedentary lifestyle. Overweight people have over a 3x increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and those who are obese have over a 6x increased risk.⁵

Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can lead to serious complicates affecting the eyes, kidneys, nervous system, and heart. Along with these well known complications, diabetes can also impact oral health. Studies show that having diabetes increases your chances of having periodontal (gum) disease and that people with diabetes may get periodontal disease earlier and it may be more severe. Children with diabetes have been shown to have more gingivitis than children without diabetes.⁶ A recent study found that periodontal destruction can begin early in life for children with diabetes and may become more pronounced into adolescence.⁷ Additionally, people with poor glycemic control often experience the worst gum health. It often manifests in severe gum bleeding, deeper periodontal pockets and more bone loss. If you have diabetes or are a caregiver for someone who does, it's important to have regular dental exams dental cleanings and excellent oral hygiene habits.

The Waterpik® Dental Water Jet is one of the few home care products tested on people with diabetes. When added to toothbrushing, a Waterpik® Dental Water Jet is ideal for a diabetic's oral health because it has been found to improve the gums of people with diabetes by significantly reducing plaque, bleeding, and gingivitis better than toothbrushing alone.

World Health Organization. Country and regional data. www.who.int/diabetes/facts/world_figures/en/index.html. Accessed January 28, 2008.
The prevalence and costs of diabetes, 2006. Canadian Diabetes Association. Available at www.diabetes.ca. Accessed July 31, 2007.
Diabetes UK. Diabetes prevalence 2007: Reports and statistics. www.diabetes.org.uk. Accessed January 28, 2008.
National Diabetes Fact Sheet. United States, 2005. Department of Health and Human Services. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at www.cdc.gov/diabetes. Accessed January 28, 2008.
A Nation at Risk: Obesity in the United States: A Statistical Sourcebook; American Heart Association, 2005.
Mealey BL, Oates TW. Diabetes mellitus and periodontal diseases. J Periodontol 2006;77:1289-1303.
Lalla E et al. Periodontal changes in children and adolescents with diabetes. Diabetes Care 2006;29:295-299.