Gum infection is also called periodontal disease. Research has suggested that there is a relationship between periodontal disease and diabetes; it goes both ways. Gum disease may make it more difficult for people with diabetes to control their glucose/blood sugar levels.  Severe periodontal disease can increase blood sugar, contributing to increased periods of time when the body functions with a high blood sugar. This puts diabetics at increased risk for diabetic complications. Thus, diabetics who have periodontal disease should be treated to eliminate the periodontal infection.

Dental plaque destroys the gums and bone around the teeth. Dental plaque is a bio-film that is composed almost entirely of bacteria. If a person does not control or maintain their diabetes they greatly increase their chances of having periodontal disease. People with diabetes are more likely to have periodontal disease than people without diabetes, probably because diabetics are more susceptible to contracting infections. In fact, periodontal disease is often considered the sixth complication of diabetes  A study in the Journal of Periodontology found that poorly controlled type 2 diabetic patients are more likely to develop periodontal disease than well-controlled diabetics are.