I can't control my blood glucose...how come?!

    Ok so today at the VA seriously was such a good experience!  So for my research project our group is doing the relationship between diabetes and periodontal disease and how many patients are aware of the bi-directional relationship.  Well so today my patient had diabetes and periodontal disease as well...when I was asking his our routine questions about his blood glucose number I was in shock at what he said...... 260 I believe is what he said.  I said um.... is that normal for you and his response "ya its always high lately I haven't been able to control my blood glucose and I don't know how to fix it"  So first thing that came to mind, I asked him, how is your oral hygiene?  He was honest and said horrible, never floss, or brush.  I asked if he was aware that diabetes and periodontal disease had a bi-directional relationship and he said he was not aware.  So i educated him about how perio is making it hard for him to control his blood sugars and his diabetes is also making it hard to control his perio if he is not controlling his diabetes as well as not having good oral hygiene.  He was so impressed that I knew all this and had educated him.  It really made me feel good to be able to help him better understand and it motivated him to step up his home care and he promised that he was going to floss and brush properly so he could maintain better health and control his diabetes.  What he found weird was that his doctor had never mentioned this to him and so he had not clue about it.  My patients experience went along perfectly with my research project and I was able to see hands on exactly what my patient knew, and how he reacted after he was educated.  It really did motivate him to have good oral care because he wanted to control his diabetes and I told him it was going to be difficult if he didn't control his mouth first.   It is kind of sad that patients like mine today are not educated about their diseases and complications come from lack of knowledge.  I am glad that I have the knowledge so I can help educate others who are in need!