Normally one would not associate Dental, Diabetes, and Dialysis in the same sentence or thought process. However, it is an uncontested fact that Diabetes and the need for Dialysis are closely associated with over 40% of dialysis patients also diabetic. Up to now, I had never heard or read any association between the latter two Ds and Dental. I know that often diabetic patients have dental challenges, but the study I’m about to present notes a causality going the other direction, Dental Problems -> Diabetes and further -> Dialysis.
Writing in the July 9 2023 issue of SciTechDaily, the University At Buffalo wrote an article titled “The Surprising Connection Between Chewing and Type 2 Diabetes.” The article is linked here:
With the following Prompt, I asked my AI to condense the article for this blog into 400 words or fewer entries in laymen’s terms. The Prompt and result follow. My closing comments are at the end. The lead graphic is from Bing Illustrator.
Summarize the following article into a 400-word or less entry at laymen’s level for a blog that concentrates on peritoneal dialysis:
ChatGPT:
Mehmet A. Eskan, a researcher from the University at Buffalo, suggests medical professionals treating Type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients should pay attention to their patient’s dental health. Eskan’s recent study, published in PLOS ONE, found a significant link between chewing functionality and blood sugar levels in T2D patients. Essentially, those who could chew well had much lower blood sugar levels than those who couldn’t.
Eskan and his team analyzed data from 94 T2D patients at a clinic in Istanbul, Turkey. They divided the patients into two groups based on their ability to chew – those with a good “occlusal function” (the ability to chew food effectively), and those who couldn’t chew well due to missing or improperly placed teeth. The results were striking: the group with good occlusal function had an average blood sugar level of 7.48, while those who couldn’t chew well had an average blood sugar level almost 27% higher, at 9.42.
Chewing, or mastication, kickstarts the digestion process by stimulating saliva production. It also helps our bodies absorb fiber and other essential nutrients from food, which are important for controlling blood sugar levels. Moreover, chewing well can promote feelings of fullness, helping to prevent overeating – a major risk factor for T2D.
Eskan’s research comes amid growing recognition of the role oral health plays in managing diabetes. In one case, a patient’s blood sugar level dropped dramatically after dental implants and restoration improved their ability to chew. However, the study also showed that factors like Body Mass Index (BMI), sex, smoking status, medications, or infections did not significantly affect the participants’ blood sugar levels.
High blood sugar levels can have serious health consequences, with a 1% increase linked to a 40% rise in the risk of heart disease among diabetic patients. Eskan hopes his research will spur further studies to understand the cause-and-effect relationship between dental health and blood sugar levels better.
So, the next time you sit down for a meal, remember: chewing your food well isn’t just good manners – it could be critical for your health, especially if you’re living with Type 2 diabetes.
My wife often laments that she spends hours cooking a nice meal for us, and given my military background where you are taught to inhale food on the run in uncertain circumstances, it is often gone in five minutes. As a couple, we are working on slowing our food intake down in keeping with the findings of this article.
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