A New York University study has found that the vast majority of people with gum disease are also at a high risk for diabetes. And, researchers involved with the study say the dentist may be the first line of defense for identifying and treating those with the condition.

Researchers looked at health data for 2,923 individuals during 2003-2004 who had not been diagnosed with diabetes. They found that 93 percent who had periodontal disease were at risk for developing diabetes, compared to 63 percent of those without gum disease.

In addition, three out of five people at high risk for diabetes reported visiting their dentist during the past two years, half during the last year and a third within the last six months.

"The dental visit could be a useful opportunity to conduct an initial diabetes screening – an important first step in identifying those patients who need follow-up testing to diagnose the disease," said the study’s lead author Dr Shiela Strauss.

Besides gum disease, being overweight, having a family history of diabetes, belonging to a high-risk ethnic group and having high blood pressure or cholesterol are also risk factors for the disease.

According to WebMD.com, nutritional supplements containing beta carotene, blond psyllium, chromium, flaxseed, ginseng and milk thistle are among the substances believed to help naturally lower blood sugar in diabetics.