COPENHAGEN, Denmark, March 15 (UPI) -- Gum disease can alter the metabolic conditions that could lead to pre-diabetes in rats, Danish researchers report.
The study, published in the Journal of Periodontology, shows having periodontal disease may aggravate pre-diabetes -- a precursor for diabetes.
Pre-diabetes is a condition in which blood-glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes, Dr. Carla Pontes Andersen of the University of Copenhagen said in a statement.
An estimated 54 million Americans have pre-diabetes, and a major portion will develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years, according to the American Diabetes Association.
The findings underscore the importance of good teeth and gum care. This could be one way to prevent the progression of diabetes, according to Dr. Preston D. Miller Jr., president of the American Academy of Periodontology.
