Effect of Diabetes on Gums and Eyes

In a person with diabetes, the oral mucous membranes may appear dry because of dehydration. When inspecting the patient’s gums, you may find that they bleed easily and appear swollen-an indication of periodontal disease caused by glucose pooling. Patients with diabetes who practice poor oral hygiene and poor blood glucose control commonly have oral infections. For example, white patches on the tongue, palate, and buccal mucosa are signs of oral thrush. Many ulcers covered with a pseudomembrane and thick oral secretions are signs of Vincent’s angina (trench mouth).Hyperglycemia affects the eyes in many ways. It may alter visual acuity, making it difficult for the patient to read a Snellen chart. Ocular neuropathy impairs extraocular eye movements. Prolonged hyperglycemia may cause eye disorders such as xanthelasma (slightly raised, yellowish, well-defined plaques that appear along the nasal side of the eyelids), cataracts (opacities visible on or in the lens that take on various shapes and colors), and glaucoma (increased intraocular pressure). Prolonged hyperglycemia also may cause diabetic retinopathy-an abnormality of the retina detected by ophthalmoscopic examination .