Diabetes and periodontal diseases

This position paper on diabetes mellitus was prepared by the Research, Scie nce and Therapy Committee of The American Academy of Periodontology. It is intended to: 1) update members of the dental profession on the diagnosis an d medical management of patients with diabetes mellitus; 2) summarize curre nt knowledge on the relation between diabetes mellitus and periodontal dise ases; 3) provide an overview of factors in diabetic patients relevant to un derstanding the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases in these subjects; 4) outline special considerations associated with treatment of periodontal dis eases in diabetic patients; and 5) discuss possible approaches to the manag ement of diabetic emergencies in the dental office.