Signs in your mouth that signal diabetes

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

•Saliva production in your mouth

 is impacted by blood sugar levels    

•One of the many side effects of 

diabetes on your health is a slow       

immune system

•Thrush and dry mouth could be

 responsible for a condition known

 as burning tongue syndrome

Before diving into the main topic, let me briefly introduce diabetes in simplest of terms.

 What is Diabetes:

Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy.

Most of the food you eat is broken down into sugar (also called glucose) and released into your bloodstream. When your blood sugar goes up, it signals your pancreas to release insulin. Insulin acts like a key to let the blood sugar into your body’s cells for use as energy.

If you have diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use the insulin it makes as well as it should. When there isn’t enough insulin or cells stop responding to insulin, too much blood sugar stays in your bloodstream. Over time, that can cause serious health problems, such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease.

Is there any cure for diabetes:

There isn’t a cure yet for diabetes, but losing weight, eating healthy food, and being active can really help. Taking medicine as needed, getting diabetes self-management education and support, and keeping health care appointments can also reduce the impact of diabetes on your life.

 Symptoms of diabetes:

The first step of diagnosis for any condition is watching out for key symptoms. Be it the common cold or flu, heart disease or diabetes – some basic symptoms standout for every condition. Diabetes, a condition that affects millions across the globe and results in countless health complications, is also backed by a number of symptoms like:

• Excessive thirst
• Frequent urination
• Blurry vision
• Hunger pangs
• Unexplained weight loss

How our mouth signals diabetes:

Now let’s get back to our main topic “how our mouth signals diabetes”. Strange as it sounds, there are some signs in your mouth that could hint at diabetes. So here are the key points:

1.   Dry mouth: Saliva production in your mouth is impacted by blood sugar levels. If they go uncontrollably high, saliva production can go low and you may feel excess dryness in your mouth. Over time, the same can result in sores, ulcers and even cavities.

2.   Burning tongue or mouth: Thrush and dry mouth could be responsible for a condition known as burning tongue syndrome. Patients can feel their tongue go numb or may experience tingling in the mouth. One may also lose the ability to taste as a result of ageing.

3.   Thrush: People with diabetes who frequent anti-fungal medication are more likely to develop an infection in their mouth or on their tongue. This virus thrives on high blood sugar in the saliva of people with uncontrolled diabetes.

4.   Slow healing of cuts and infections: One of the many side effects of diabetes on your health is a slow immune system. High blood sugar levels impact the healing process and slow down recovery from external cuts and wounds. The same applies for oral health; in sores, ulcers and infections are taking too long to health, it could be a symptom of diabetes.

Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purpose only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.