Diabetic Studies

• Glucose Tolerance Test During Pregnancy May Be Falsely Negative in Women With Family History of Diabetes
• Gum Disease and Gestational Diabetes
• Twice as Many Women May Soon Be Diagnosed With Gestational Diabetes

Healthy gums can be a predictor for a healthy baby.

Pregnant women suffering from gum disease (also known as gingivitis), run a higher risk of developing gestational diabetes than pregnant women with healthy gums.

Diabetes during pregnancy is when a woman has lost the ability to transport glucose and manage her sugar level.  The condition usually only exists during pregnancy and will typically go away after the pregnancy ends.  Although, there is a higher likelihood for women who’ve developed gestational diabetes to have a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.

A year-long study was conducted by dental researchers from the New York University College of Dentistry.  Dr. Ananda Dansanayake led the study which concluded in 2008 that pregnant women with periodontal gum disease were more likely to develop gestational diabetes.  Twenty-two out of 256 women developed gestational diabetes also had higher levels of gum bacteria than the other pregnant women with healthier gums.  Those with the highest incidences of gum bleeding also happened to have the highest blood glucose levels.  The findings confirm that having higher levels of bacteria present in the mouth can be a strong predictor of developing gestational diabetes or type 2 in many others as they get older.

Many statistics show that ethnic groups are most at risk for gestational diabetes, such as Asians, Native Americans and Hispanics.

Research also says that gum disease can lead to preterm delivery and contribute to gestational diabetes.  This can strongly suggest women should see a dentist if they plan to get pregnant for treatment to improve their oral health and minimize potential risks.

More Information About Gestational Diabetes
Gestational Diabetes Diet – Gestational Diabetes and Blood Sugar Levels
Complications with Gestational Diabetes – Gestational Diabetes After the Baby