November is National Diabetes Month. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), diabetes is not just a disease but it’s an epidemic affecting over 40 million people in the U.S. with 1.5 million Americans diagnosed each year,12% living with diabetes, and 115 million adults living with prediabetes.
Underscoring the ADA’s message on a global scale, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization recognize November 14 as World Diabetes Day, the world’s largest diabetes awareness campaign. The focus of World Diabetes Day 2026-2027 is on early diagnosis and risk reduction. The IDF estimates approximately 589 million adults (20-79 years) are living with diabetes, a number projected to rise to 853 million by 2050. Equally concerning, four out of 10 adults are unaware that they have diabetes.
You may not realize that routine dental and comprehensive eye exams can sometimes identify findings that warrant diabetes testing. High blood sugar can contribute to inflammation, vascular damage and impaired healing, with effects in the mouth and eyes. The next step, a diagnosis of diabetes, requires appropriate blood testing such as an A1C or blood glucose test.
The relationship between diabetes and periodontal disease can be bidirectional. Poor control of blood sugar can increase the risk and severity of periodontal (gum) disease, while chronic periodontal inflammation may make blood sugar management more difficult. People with diabetes, particularly when blood sugar is not well managed, may also experience gum disease, oral infections such as thrush, dry mouth and delayed healing. Treating periodontitis may modestly improve blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes, alongside their usual medical care.
Diabetes is the leading cause of severe visual impairment in working-age adults. Diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, cataracts and glaucoma may develop with few noticeable symptoms in their early stages, making regular eye care especially important. Comprehensive eye exams can also reveal findings associated with other health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease, that warrant medical follow-up.
Despite growing awareness of diabetes, millions of Americans remain undiagnosed or don’t know they are at increased risk. The condition often develops gradually, with symptoms that may be overlooked until complications begin to emerge.
Dental and vision providers can contribute to coordinated diabetes care. Dentists and dental hygienists may identify persistent gum inflammation, gum disease, dry mouth, oral infections or delayed healing. Optometrists and ophthalmologists may observe retinal or other ocular changes that prompt medical evaluation. Many of these findings can also have other causes so sharing relevant findings with the entire health care team can support appropriate testing and follow-up.
A busy schedule can make it challenging to schedule routine dental and vision exams, but these visits help protect your oral and eye health and may uncover concerns that require medical follow-up. To better understand your risk for tooth decay and gum disease, take the free Health Through Oral Wellness risk assessment and discuss your scores with your dentist. Make time for preventive care because small steps today can help prevent bigger health problems down the road.
