| Welcome to the March
2007 edition of Access Digest. This month we are
looking at the effects of diabetes on your teeth
and mouth.
Our Lifestyle Tip for March appropriately
considers what you can do to promote healthy gums
and teeth. Our Recipe of the Month is
a delicious chicken stew made with red wine.
As always, when you see "Read More" at
the end of an article, or something that is underlined,
you can click on it to be linked to another
Web site where you'll find more information. When
you find a site that you may want to visit again
in the future, you can bookmark it.
Each month we receive
questions from our readers. We post some of the
more frequent questions and answers for everyone
to read. If you have questions or comments of
your own, please e-mail them to us at the end
of this issue.
We hope you enjoy this issue of our newsletter.
Thank you for choosing Access Diabetic
Supply as your choice for diabetic supplies. |
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Diabetes and Dental Problems |
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From
predicting heart disease, diabetes, and premature
birth to revealing leukemia, eating disorders,
and vitamin deficiencies, your teeth and gums
say a mouthful about your health.
Receding or inflamed gums, cavities, tooth loss,
gingivitis, and other dental dilemmas in adults
can indicate the presence of serious health problems
-- including heart disease, diabetes, cancer,
vitamin deficiencies, and even the risk of having
a premature or low-birth-weight baby. Usually,
these dental problems result from poor dental
hygiene such as not brushing well or not flossing
regularly. But even by following your dentist's
golden rule, you may still be hurting your overall
health.
Read More
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How can diabetes hurt my teeth and gums? |
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Tooth and gum problems can happen to anyone.
A sticky film full of germs, called plaque, builds
up on your teeth. High blood glucose helps germs,
also called bacteria, grow. Then you can get red,
sore, and swollen gums that bleed when you brush
your teeth.
People with diabetes can have tooth and gum problems
more often if their blood glucose stays high.
High blood glucose can make tooth and gum problems
worse. You can even lose your teeth.
Smoking makes it more likely for you to get a
bad case of gum disease, especially if you have
diabetes and are age 45 or older.
Red, sore, and bleeding gums are the first sign
of gum disease. These problems can lead to periodontitis
(PAIR-ee-oh-don-TY-tiss). Periodontitis is an
infection in the gums and the bone that holds
the teeth in place. If the infection gets worse,
your gums may pull away from your teeth, making
your teeth look long.
Read more |
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What should I know
about diet and tooth decay? |
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Your teeth are covered with plaque, a sticky
film of bacteria. After you have a meal, snack or
beverage that contains sugars or starches, the bacteria
release acids derived from dietary sugars that attack
tooth enamel. Repeated attacks can cause the enamel
to break down and may eventually result in cavities.
When diabetes is not controlled properly, high glucose
levels in saliva may help bacteria thrive. Brushing
twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and cleaning
once a day between your teeth with floss or an interdental
cleaner helps remove decay-causing plaque.
Plaque that is not removed can eventually harden
(calcify) into calculus, or tartar. When tartar
collects above the gumline, it becomes more difficult
to thoroughly brush and clean between teeth. This
can create conditions that lead to chronic inflammation
and infection in the mouth.
Read More |
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Guide to a healthy
mouth |
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You must take special
care of your mouth when you have diabetes, especially
your teeth and gums. Follow this advice to avoid
serious complications.
When you have diabetes, elevated blood sugar levels
can damage many parts of your body, including your
mouth and teeth. Diabetes increases your risk of
gum disease, cavities and tooth loss, dry mouth,
and a variety of oral infections.
Conversely, poor oral health can make your diabetes
more difficult to control. Infections may cause
your blood sugar to rise and require more insulin
to keep it under control.
In addition, diabetes can diminish your ability
to taste sweets. Although this change may not be
noticeable, it can influence your food choices in
favor of additional sweeter tasting foods, thereby
affecting your dental health, as well as your ability
to control your diabetes.
Awareness of potential oral complications from diabetes
will improve your chances of maintaining a healthy
mouth and sound teeth.
Read More |
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Healthy Living: Lifestyle Tip &
Recipe of the Month |
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March Lifestyle
Tip: Keeping your teeth and gums healthy
Keep your blood glucose as close to normal as
possible. Use dental floss at least once a day.
Flossing helps prevent the buildup of plaque on
your teeth. Plaque can harden and grow under your
gums and cause problems. Using a sawing motion,
gently bring the floss between the teeth, scraping
from bottom to top several times.
Brush your teeth after each meal and snack. Use
a soft toothbrush. Turn the bristles against the
gum line and brush gently. Use small, circular
motions. Brush the front, back, and top of each
tooth.
If you wear false teeth, keep them clean. Ask
the person who cleans your teeth to show you the
best way to brush and floss your teeth and gums.
Ask this person about the best toothbrush and
toothpaste to use.
Call your dentist right away if you have problems
with your teeth and gums. Call your dentist if
you have red, sore, or bleeding gums; gums that
are pulling away from your teeth; a sore tooth
that could be infected; or soreness from your
dentures. Get your teeth and gums cleaned and
checked by your dentist twice a year. If your
dentist tells you about a problem, take care of
it right away. Be sure your dentist knows that
you have diabetes. If you smoke, talk to your
doctor about ways to quit smoking.
Read More |
| March Recipe: Chicken Stew with
Red Wine |
| This
month our featured recipe is a delicious
entree that is as good as it is good for you --
Chicken Stew with Red Wine.
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| Ingredients -
Chicken Stew with Red Wine |
| Ingredient |
Measure |
| Boneless, skinless chicken breast
halves |
4 |
| Olive oil |
2 tsp. |
| Medium onion, chopped |
1 |
| Large cloves garlic, minced |
2 |
| Flour |
1 tbsp. |
| Reduced-sodium fat-free chicken
broth |
3/4 cup |
| Dry red wine OR reduced-sodium
fat-free chicken broth |
3/4 cup |
| Bay leaf |
1 |
| Dried oregano leaves |
1 1/2 tsp. |
| Dried thyme leaves |
1/2 tsp |
| Black pepper |
1/4 tsp. |
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Preparation
Cook chicken in oil in large
skillet until browned on both sides,
about 8 minutes. Stir in onion and
garlic and sauté until tender, about
5 minutes; sprinkle with flour and
cook 1 to 2 minutes longer. Add
remaining ingredients, heat to boiling.
Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered,
until chicken is tender, about 15
minutes; simmer, uncovered, until
thickened to desired consistency,
5 to 10 minutes. Discard bay leaf;
season to taste. |
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Nutritional
Information - Chicken Stew with
Red Wine |
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| Recipe makes four servings; amount per
serving: |
| Calories |
207 |
| Cholesterol |
69 mg. |
| Total Fat |
5.3 g. |
| Sodium |
100
mg. |
| Carbohydrates |
4.7
g. |
| Protein |
26.8
g. |
| Exchanges per serving |
1 vegetable,
3 meat |
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Questions & Answers - Ask the
Experts |
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Each month our staff answers questions and
asks for your feedback. However, if you have urgent
questions about your order or your meter, we encourage
you to call our customer care department at 1-800-276-5712.
We do our best to answer all questions, but we
also encourage you to consult your physician.
Below are a few of the typical questions
our customer care department has answered on this
month's theme. Each question is linked to a Web
site that gives an answer and provides more detail.
We hope you find this section helpful. |
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Access Diabetic Supply |
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