Missing Teeth and Diabetes

A study of 2,508 participants in a diabetes database compared to patients without diabetes shows some remarkable statistics:

• Among adults with natural teeth, those with diabetes have, on average, lost 50% greater numbers of teeth than those without the disease
• Among adults with no teeth (edentulous),  those with diabetes are twice as likely to have no teeth that those without the disease

One in every five cases of edentulism in the United States is linked to diabetes. 

JADA, vol. 144, no. 5, 478-485

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Prediabetes and the Risk of Diabetes

The Centers for Disease Control estimates that 1/3 of adults in the United States has prediabetes: 79 million Americans, half of all Americans aged 65 years or older, and that 15% to 30% of people with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within 5 years.

If these risk factors apply to you, seek medical attention:

• age 45 or older
• overweight
• family history of diabetes parent or sibling
• background--African-American, Hispanic/Latino, American-Indian, Asian-American or Pacific-Islander
• history of diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes) or giving birth to a baby weighing 9 pounds or more
• physical activity less than three times per week

Early diagnosis and treatment and lifestyle changes can prevent serious medical consequences!

Source: www.cdc.gov

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Missing Teeth and Diabetes

A study of 2,508 participants in a diabetes database compared to patients without diabetes shows some remarkable statistics:

• Among adults with natural teeth, those with diabetes have, on average, lost 50% greater numbers of teeth than those without the disease
• Among adults with no teeth (edentulous),  those with diabetes are twice as likely to have no teeth that those without the disease

One in every five cases of edentulism in the United States is linked to diabetes. 

JADA, vol. 144, no. 5, 478-485

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Health Alert: Flu and People with Diabetes

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has the following recommendations.  Both type 1 and 2 diabetic patients, even when well managed, are at increased risk of severe disease and complications, like hospitalization and even death, as a result of getting the flu.  This is because diabetes can make the immune system less able to fight severe influenza disease.  In addition, illness can raise blood sugar levels.

Therefore, the CDC recommends that people with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes, who are 6 months and older, get a flu shot.  Because these patients are at an increased risk of developing pneumonia from the flu, a pneumonia vaccine is also recommended.

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Reverse Pre-Diabetes

Nearly 25% of Americans are thought to have pre-diabetes--a condition of slightly elevated blood sugar levels that often develops into diabetes within 10 years-- but only 4% are aware of it.  Diabetes can mean a lifetime of drugs and blood sugar monitoring, an increased risk of heart disease, periodontal disease, Alzheimer's disease, and other health threats.  Prevention.com offered the following healthy habits to reverse pre-diabetes:  

• Lose weight:  a  5% weight loss equals a 70% reduction in risk.  

• Walk:  worldwide studies show the increased activity gotten from walking daily helps the body utilize insulin to move blood sugar into cells that provide energy and nutrition whole grain cereals:  

• Indulge coffee:  the Harvard School of Public Health studied 126,210 men and women over 18 years and found four cups or more of coffee with caffeine offered protection.  

• Skip fast food:  University of Minnesota scientists followed 3,000 people, ages 18 to 30, for 15 years, and found those who ate fast food more than twice per week gained 10 more pounds and developed twice the rate of insulin resistance, the two major risk factors for type 2 diabetes.  

• Eat vegetables more often:  by eating vegetables and reducing the amount of red meat and processed meat, risk is significantly lowered, according to a 37,000 women study at Bringham and Women's Hospital.     

• Cinnamon:  German researchers studied adults with type 2 diabetes who then took a capsule containing the equivalent of 1 g. cinnamon powder 3 times a day for 4 months and reduced their blood sugar by 10%.     

• Daily relaxation:  simple relaxation exercises and other stress management techniques reduce blood sugar levels, according to a study conducted at Duke University.  Get 6 to 8 hours of sleep a night: Yale University found less than 6 hours of sleep doubled diabetes risk, and more than 8 hours tripled risk.     

• Be social:  women who live alone are 2.5 times more likely to develop diabetes.     

• Have a blood test:  a simple blood test measures sugar levels.  People with pre-diabetes--slightly elevated sugar levels, between 100 and 125 mg/dl--often develop a full blown case within 10 years. Knowing you are at risk can put you on a course of simple diet and exercise changes.    

Source:  Women's Health Magazine/Prevention.com 

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

The Battle of the Bulge in Men

There is the tendency for men to gain belly fat as they age.  With age, less physical activity and loss of muscle mass make maintaining a healthy weight a challenge.  The problem, physiologically, is that belly fat is both just below the skin (subcutaneous) and inside the abdomen (visceral) surrounding internal organs.  Regardless of weight, a large amount of belly fat is associated with a greater risk of heart disease, diabetes and colorectal cancer.  For men, a true waist measurement of greater than 40 inches is indicative of too much belly fat.  While exercise can strengthen abdominal muscles, the only way to reduce visceral fat is to eat a diet higher in fruits, vegetables, lean protein and low saturated fat.  With age, portion sizes should be reduced also.  And, as we have referenced in this blog many times, moderate aerobic activity of at least two and a half hours per week can be included in your daily routine.

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Feel and Be Better with Exercise

Remember what it was like to be young and active?  Actually, regular physical activity, at any age, has the benefits of feeling better and having more energy.  Exercise improves your life by:

• controlling weight by burning calories--to prevent weight gain or maintain weight loss
• improving muscle strength and endurance, thereby increasing energy with greater oxygen supply to your tissues and organs
• lowering the risk of heart disease, diabetes, some cancers, metabolic syndrome, arthritis
• stimulating brain chemicals that make you happier, more relaxed, more confident
• helping you sleep better
• energizing your sex life

And, above all, make it fun!

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Antibiotic Failure in Obese Patients

Obesity rates are rising, and the epidemic is associated with increased rates of heart disease, certain cancers, and diabetes.  Obese patients have higher rates of infection and therefore more frequent use of antibacterial medications.

Antibiotic Failure

A recent study in Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf analyzed 6,179 patients to see if obese patients had higher rates of antibiotic failure than non-obese patients.  The authors took several factors into account: BMI category (overweight or obese), comorbidities, lifestyle factors (smoking and drinking), time of year (such as "flu season"), MRSA, history of antibiotic use, age, sex, and income.  They noted "first" the antibiotic prescription as a baseline and subsequent additional or modified antibiotic prescriptions or hospitalizations.
Of the study participants, 828 (13.4%) had an ATF (antibiotic failure) event during the follow-up period, of which 807 (97%) required additional prescriptions or modifications in antibiotic regimens, and 21 (3%) resulted in hospital admissions, readmissions, or death from an infectious cause.

Of the 828 patients who experienced ATF, nearly 64% were either overweight or obese.  Obese patients were significantly more likely than non-obese to have ATF.

For more information, see: www.empr.com

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

The Health Threat of Temperature Swings

Summer Temperature May Be A Health Threat

A 20 year study shows extreme summer temperature swings, which are becoming more common, may be a health threat to people age 65 or older.  Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the study compared more than 20 years of Medicare records with summer temperature changes over the same time period for 135 US cities.  Taken into account were other environmental variables, also, such as air pollution, the number of parks and trees in an urban area, income, education and race.

The results were that changes in a city's average summertime temperature range of as little as 1 degree Celsius, or 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit, were linked to higher death rates for seniors with heart and lung disease and diabetes.  For each 1 degree Celsius change, death risk rose 4.0% for those with diabetes, 3.8% for those who'd had a previous heart attack, 3.7% for those with chronic lung disease and 2.8% for those with heart failure.  In the US population, this could be responsible for as many as 14,000 deaths in heart attack survivors each year, for example.  

Stress 

The problem seems to be that temperature swings stress the body, and many elders cannot adjust.  Therefore, friends, relatives and neighbors should try to keep a closer eye on people with chronic health problems, watching for changes in their daily vital signs or complaints.  This is important whether the temperature goes up or down. 

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., 
 Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics
(661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com
5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Gum Disease Can Raise Blood Sugar Level

It has been long understood that people with diabetes have more gum disease that those without diabetes.
The Journal of Peridontology now reports the latest research into whether gum disease could affect the development of diabetes itself.  The found that people with gum disease:

• have higher long-term blood sugar levels 
• might be at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes
• may be at a higher risk of developing gestational diabetes
• have a harder time controlling their type 2 diabetes
• are at higher risk for eye and kidney disease, as well as heart attack and stroke, if they have diabetes

Scientists think that germs from infected gums enter the bloodstream during chewing and brushing, which in turn elevates blood sugar level.

The take home lesson is to keep your gums as healthy as possible whether or nor you have diabetes.

Source:  JADA, vol. 144 no. 7 p.  860

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Heart Disease and Women--Symptoms, Risks

Heart disease affect more women than men

Heart disease kills more women every year than any other health condition.  The Journal of the American Medical Association reports that younger women (under age 55) without chest pain during a heart attack are more likely to die than men, because the diagnosis of heart attack is often delayed.  

Men reported chest pain more often than women

In a study of data on more than 1 million people, nearly 70% of men reported chest pain, compared to 58% of women.  When chest pain occurs, it feels like a ton of weight on the center or left side of the chest that usually last for more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back.  It can be a squeezing, fullness, pain, or heartburn or indigestion.  There may be sharp pain in one or both arms, the back, shoulders, neck, jaw or upper (above belly button) part of the stomach.  There may be sudden and severe shortness of breath at rest or with minimal physical activity.  There may be unexplained or excessive sweating that you know is not menopause.  The most common symptom is sudden or unusual tiredness or lack of energy that may last for days, including muscle weakness or tiredness that is not related to exercise.  This symptom is the easiest to ignore.  There may be sudden dizziness or light-headedness. There may be nausea, vomiting or indigestion, especially in combination with other symptoms. 

Risk factors for heart disease

Risk factors for women include high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes and a family history of heart disease.  Since crushing chest pain doesn't always occur, awareness of these other symptoms leads to earlier treatment. If any of the severe symptoms occur and lasts for more than five minutes, emergency medical care is recommended. 

The earliest treatment may be the key to survival!  

The existence of periodontal (gum) disease has been correlated with a higher incidence of heart disease. 

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Missing Teeth and Diabetes

A study of 2,508 participants in a diabetes database compared to patients without diabetes shows some remarkable statistics:

• Among adults with natural teeth, those with diabetes have, on average, lost 50% greater numbers of teeth than those without the disease
• Among adults with no teeth (edentulous),  those with diabetes are twice as likely to have no teeth that those without the disease

One in every five cases of edentulism in the United States is linked to diabetes. 

JADA, vol. 144, no. 5, 478-485

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Diabetes Diagnosis in a Dental Office

The Journal of Dental Research reports that in a study of over 500 dental patients, those who had 26% or greater deep pockets and 4 or more missing teeth were correctly identified as undiagnosed diabetics or prediabetics.  If also screened for blood glucose and found to have HbA1c greater than 5.7%, then 92% were correctly identified.  Oral health professionals have the opportunity to identify undiagnosed diabetics and refer them to a physician for followup care.

JDent Res 2011, vol. 90,7:  pp. 855-860 

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Heart Attack Cause and Prevention

What you need to control

There are major risk factors for a heart attack that you can control:

• Smoking:  quit or cut back
• High blood pressure:  your doctor can prescribe medicine to
  keep it under control
• High cholesterol:  medication, a diet low in saturated fats,
  trans fat, cholesterol, sodium and added sugars
• Overweight or obesity:  lose unwanted pounds
• Diabetes:  control blood sugar with medication and diet
• Lack of physical activity:  become as active as possible

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc.,
Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics
(661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com
5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309 (map)

What researchers have found about oral health

How oral health leads to your heart

Scientific research has shown the relationship between oral health and heart disease, diabetes, premature birth, Alzheimer's disease, infertility and even erectile dysfunction. www.prevention.com has tips for oral care and protecting your teeth, as well as remedies for the prevention of gum disease. Necessary vitamin intake, and foods that are best for protecting your healthy smile.

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc.,
Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics
(661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com
5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Why Is Dental Care Important?

An attractive smile is a sign of happiness, confidence and 

self esteem. A healthy mouth is also an indicator of overall 

well-being.

What researchers have found about oral health

Scientific research has shown the relationship between oral health and heart disease, diabetes, premature birth, Alzheimer's disease, infertility and even erectile dysfunction. www.prevention.com has tips for oral care and protecting your teeth, as well as remedies for the prevention of gum disease, necessary vitamin intake, and foods that are best for protecting your healthy smile.


Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc.,
 Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics
(661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com
5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309