Simply, it is infection of the gum and bone that hold the teeth in pace. In advanced stages, it can lead to painful chewing and tooth loss. There is a link between gum disease and glycemic control. In fact, people with good blood sugar control have no more periodontal disease than people who do not have diabetes. Children with IDDM also are at risk for gum problems.
Tight control is the best protection.
One factor in developing gum disease is the thickening of blood vessels which as we know is a complication of diabetes. Since blood vessels deliver oxygen and nourishment to body tissues and remove the waste from these tissues, when the blood is slowed so is this process. This can weaken the resistance of the gum and bone tissue to infection. The second fact to understand is that many kinds of bacteria thrive on sugars, including glucose, the sugar linked to diabetes. When glycemic control is poor, germs can grow in the mouth and set the stage for gum disease.