Diabetes is a serious condition that results in blood sugar levels becoming too high. This is the case for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, although the causes differ. The earlier you spot the signs of diabetes, the earlier you can seek treatment.
The Cleveland Clinic explains: “Dry mouth (xerostomia) is a lack of saliva in your mouth.
“It can be a symptom of high blood sugar in people with diabetes or another health issue.
“It can cause serious health issues such as gum disease and mouth infections.
“People with diabetes should have regular dental checkups and make lifestyle changes to maintain oral health and prevent dry mouth.
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It said: “The review conducted demonstrated the considerable variation in prevalence of xerostomia and salivary flow rates among diabetes mellitus population in relation to non-diabetes mellitus patients.
“Most studies found a higher prevalence of xerostomia and lower salivary flow rates in DM with respect to control group.”
Common symptoms of diabetes include:
- Feeling very thirsty
- Urinating more frequently than usual, particularly at night
- Feeling very tired
- Weight loss and loss of muscle bulk
- Itching around the penis or vagina, or frequent episodes of thrush
- Cuts or wounds that heal slowly
- Blurred vision.
The cause of type 1 diabetes is not yet known but type 2 is associated with factors such as being overweight, not exercising enough and family history.
