Warwick dentist to address support group for children with diabetes
WARWICK Oral hygiene can be fun and not a chore. Thats the message Warwick dentist Dr. Vipul Patel will bring to youngsters attending the Monday, Feb. 27, meeting of the Children With Diabetes Support Group at St. Anthony Community Hospital.
The support group, sponsored by the hospitals Center for Diabetes Education, will meet from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the hospitals second-floor conference room. The community is invited to attend this educational program geared for children with Type 1 diabetes and their families.
Patel, who practices at Warwick Valley Dental in the Village of Warwick, is a fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantology. He is also a founding member of the American Academy of Oral Systemic Health, a group dedicated to the improvement of health by changing public and professional awareness of mouth-body health links.
Children with diabetes have a higher risk for gum disease, a chronic low-grade infection of the gums and bone around the teeth, Patel said. And because diabetics tend to have more problems with infections and wound healing, gum disease is a threat to both oral and general health.
In his Feb. 27 presentation, Patel said he will stress the importance of children getting frequent dental checkups and keeping their teeth healthy, especially if they have diabetes.
This is an opportunity for us to offer a program where kids with diabetes and their parents will learn the good news that those who have regular dental care experience better control of their blood sugar, compared to others with gum disease, said nurse Lourdes Braadt, certified diabetes educator at St. Anthony Community Hospital.
In addition to the support group, the Center for Diabetes Education at St. Anthony Community Hospital offers a series of classes for all patients who have been recently diagnosed with diabetes or those who demonstrate poorly controlled diets.
Parents and children with Type 1 diabetes interested in attending the Feb. 27 Children With Diabetes Support Group meeting are asked to reserve seats as soon as possible by calling 845-987-5168. Seating is limited.