Diabetes and Oral Thrush

Diabetics are much more likely to develop oral thrush and other thrush conditions throughout their bodies. For this reason if you are a diabetic, you should know what the symptoms of the condition are so that you can identify and treat the condition quickly. There are also some precautions that you can take to prevent the condition from digging in its heels in the first place and protect your overall health.

Oral thrush is caused by a micro organism called Candida albicans. This is a fungal yeast that is actually present in most people’s bodies all the time. Half of all people have some Candida in their mouths, but the amounts are generally so small that it does not cause any problems. Sometimes the amounts of Candida in the mouth can multiply out of control and that is when you will start to see oral thrush developing.

The reason that diabetics are more likely to develop oral thrush than other people is twofold. The main reason is that Candida loves sugar and feeds on it. If your diabetes is not well controlled and you have higher levels of sugar in your blood, then your body can become a complete breeding ground for the condition. The second reason that diabetics may develop oral thrush is that the amounts of Candida can often increase when your immune system has lowered defences and many diabetics do have weaker immune systems than other people.

If you have oral thrush you are likely to find whitish patches on the tongue or cheeks that may have the appearance of cottage cheese. These patches are usually somewhat painful and may bleed if bumped.

The first thing that you have to do as a diabetic to avoid developing oral thrush or other Candida conditions is to get your blood sugar levels under control. Make sure that you are working closely with your doctor and endocrinologist to have the best possible control plan in place. Maintaining a diet that is healthy and low in processed sugars and fats is going to help immensely and will also prevent other potential complications from diabetes. Furthermore, you can take probiotic supplements to fortify your intestinal health and protect your body from an overgrowth of Candida occurring. In order to protect your oral health you should also make sure that your oral hygiene is high by brushing twice a day, flossing and using a mouthwash.