June 9, 2008
What Your Dentist Should Do, #4: Open Communication With Your Physician About Your Diabetes
Insist on open communications between your dentist and your physician. If you have gum disease problems that require repeated visits to the dentist, working with your dentist and physician to establish a working team relationship can have real benefits as you’ll be seeing your dentist often – maybe more than you see your physician. Your dentist can help you stay on track and also help keep your physician alerted to any changes in your health that may need medical attention.
Initially you may need to be the information conduit, bringing your medical records to your dental appointment and making sure you share with your physician what you learn at the dentist. But talk to both of these health care providers about your overall health, your concerns and ask them how you can all communicate as a team. Keep your physician up to date about what you find out at the dentist and make sure your dentist is part of your health care team in helping you stay on track with your diabetes management efforts.
Your doctor is probably doing regular testing on you to monitor your diabetes. Don’t be surprised if your dentist wants to do tests on you as well. Be glad your dentist is that concerned about your diabetes and is that involved in your overall health care. Your dentist may include in your dental treatment a fasting blood glucose test, same as your physician. Other tests your dentist may order, if you’ve chosen one knowledgeable in treating people who have diabetes, are for A1C levels and also DNA testing for the specific bacteria causing your periodontal problems.
When your dentist and your physician work together, you will have a team working with you, helping you stay on track with your diabetes care.
Is there a secret enemy fighting your efforts to manage your diabetes? For more diabetes information, get your free five-lesson mini-course on diabetes and your teeth at DentistryForDiabetics.com.
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