Source: diabetes.co.uk<\/p>\n
Dentists and hygienists could help identify people who are at high risk of developing\u00a0type 2 diabetes, researchers have said.<\/p>\n
Oral care\u00a0is hugely important to someone\u2019s overall health and can be a good indicator of health conditions throughout the body.<\/p>\n
Previous research has suggested that severe\u00a0periodontitis, which is a condition that involves inflammation of the gums, and\u00a0gum disease\u00a0are linked to type 2 diabetes.<\/p>\n
Now, a team from the University of Birmingham have carried out a review of current literature exploring the identification of type 2 diabetes within a dental setting.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They found that using risk assessment tools, questionnaires with patients and blood testing at the dental surgery could improve health outcomes for people at risk of type 2 diabetes.<\/p>\n
Lead researcher Professor Iain Chapple, Head of the University of Birmingham\u2019s School of Dentistry said: Our review identified positive attitudes of physicians, dental team members, patients and the public towards risk assessing and early case detection of diabetes and\u00a0prediabetes\u00a0within the dental surgery. Patients also strongly supported tests being undertaken that provided immediate results.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot only does this demonstrate that there may be benefit in engaging the dental workforce to identify these cases, but also shows a need for a more joined up approach to care pathways between physicians and dental practitioners.\u201d<\/p>\n
The researchers have said that further investigation is needed to figure out how best to engage the dental workers, and whether it is a cost-effective way to optimise protocols and patient care pathways.<\/p>\n
These latest findings support the joint international guidance published last year. This guidance on gum disease and diabetes\u00a0recommends a series of pathways between oral health care professionals and physicians.<\/p>\n
NHS England also laid out its vision for encouraging joint working practice between the dental profession and the field of diabetes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5093,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[3231,1963],"class_list":["post-5092","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-diabetes","tag-detecting","tag-type-2-diabetes"],"yoast_head":"\n