Coverage Continues: Study Finds Patients With Diabetes Lose Twice As Many Teeth As Those Without The Disease

The Albany (NY) Daily Star (3/28) reports in continuing coverage that a study from Duke University researchers found “people with diabetes lose about twice as many teeth as people without.” In addition, the study found that “black people with diabetes in the US have a higher risk of tooth loss compared with white and Mexican Americans with the same condition.” Although the study did not examine the potential causes of the health disparity, “it’s possible that gaps in” dental care “played a role,” the article adds. Bei Wu, a nursing professor at Duke University and a co-author of the study, said, “For African Americans, the lack of access to care is profound.”

        MouthHealthy.org provides additional information on diabetes and teeth.