Diabetic Recipes
There are certain things in our lives that we do because we know they need to be done. No matter how physically or emotionally painful, we have to do them.
Like going to the dentist. Which is especially important for those of us with diabetes because diabetes can make a person twice as likely to develop gum disease, which can make blood sugar management more challenging, which makes the gum disease worse, which can lead to kidney failure and heart disease, etc., etc.
When I was younger, I used to go to the dentist faithfully every six months. I hated every part of being there, but knew the cleanings were good for my teeth. And then The Mr. and I hit some serious financial trouble and I gave up our dental insurance in an effort to pinch pennies. It was several years before I would go back.
So several weeks ago when I was finally able to get to the dentist for what I thought would be a regular check up and cleaning, I was hit with this: You need a deep clean that involves anesthetic and two visits. This was not something I was happy about. When I quizzed the hygenist about it she tried to blame the extreme build up on diabetes, but I got her to acknowledge that while diabetes didn't help the situation, lack of care was mostly to blame.
I started my day at the dentist at 7 a.m. today. Seriously. I had way more shots in my mouth than I care to count. When B and I were talking right before I left she reminded me that the more often I floss and the more often I can come in for a teeth cleaning, the more likely I am to avoid gum disease.
Three months from now I go back for another cleaning. This one won't involve shots.
Ugh, there is NOTHING worse than a trip to the dentist after taking a few years off. I did it a few months ago, and ended up with 2 root canals :( The worst part, besides the obvious pain, is that I ended up spending $2200 on them. If that's not a good enough reason to never go back, I don't know what is.
It's not my favorite thing to do either. I can't imagine it's anyone's. lol But I truly want to keep my teeth, so a healthy mouth and gums is a must. Brushing and flossing religiously and having every 6 month cleanings will give me the best chance of keeping my teeth and also keeping those expenses at a manageable level.
Ahhhh
Yet another GOOD topic.
When I was a kid my Dad had REAL good insurance, So I went every 6 months. When I was an early teen, I sat and watched my Mom hold a bowl under her chin and bleed profusely for hours after getting all of her teetch taken out to get full dentures.
I then decided I didnt like Dentists.
But I continued.
Im 42 now, and am proud to say, I dont even have one cavity. Two weeks ago, I went in, for a general cleaning, and was told that I needed to have my teeth scaled. I had the beginnings of Gum Disease. There were 4 teetch that were servere. My insurance covered the scaling, however the antibiotics that they shove into the gums are not covered.
When I walked out that day I paid a over 500 dollar office visit.
Thank God for Credit Cards. I have NEVER paid for anything with a dentist. I have insurance and pay a good monthly price for it, but I guess, with all the cut backs etc....I now have co-pays, and certain things are NOT covered.
Now...I have to go back in December. Do it all over again.
SO lets go over Elizabeths list of priorities....
Pay the Mortgage.......check
Pay the car payment.....check
Pay for the Insurance on the car.....check
utilities.......check
FOOD????........check
oh yeah....ALL of the supplies that a Diabetic T1 NEEDS????......(sigh) check
Spend a grand a year on my teeth??? and it HAS to go on a credit card....?????
....Hummmmmmmmmmm
We do not have dental Insurance, and so me, my husband, and all 4 kids suffer. They all went in last year, but who knows whats lerking in their mouths this year. My teeth are falling apart, and sometimes I am in pain. In looking on my kids mouths, I know they have cavities, so What am I suppose to do? Really, I don't know. We do not have extra money for anything. Let alone hundreds for dentist appointments.
Great post, and I am paranoid about going to the dentist. (I fear him - I have such freakishly sensitive teeth!)
Michelle, you said it all in your first two paragraphs. Especially for people who have diabetes, dental care is crucial. Lack of dental therapy may worsen your diabetes, and the longer you go without treatment the problems will multiply geometrically. Regular dental care will help you keep your teeth. That may not sound like a big deal, but toothlessness is 15 times higher in people who have diabetes. By the time you get to that point, the systemic interactions between diabetes and gum disease are likely to pose very serious threats to your health.
Maintaining good dental hygiene is no less important than managing your blood glucose levels. There’s no way it can be considered an elective health care expenditure.
As far as dental insurance coverage, it’s never really been more than a partial benefit for most who have it. Beyond routine cleanings, there’s always something it won’t cover and you wind up paying out of pocket anyway. Another problem is that benefits haven’t kept pace with the cost of living for the past 20 years.
The best approach is to budget for regular checkups and cleaning, and put away a little extra for those times when you’ll inevitably need additional treatment. If the bill is more than you can pay at the time, most dentists – and all Dentistry For Diabetics dentists – are more than willing to work out reasonable monthly payments. In fact, if you’re concerned about the cost just ask about it right up front so you can set up a payment plan and then go ahead with the care you need.
Whatever you do, please don’t go without regular care from a dentist who understands the connections between elevated blood sugar levels and your teeth.
For more on dental care for people who have diabetes, check out my dLife.com colums at http://www.dlife.com/dLife/do/ShowContent/inspiration_expert_advice/expert_columns/martin_columns.html or my blog at http://dentistryfordiabetics.com/blog.