Dr. Natalie Strand, Co-author of “A Woman’s Guide to Diabetes: A Path to Wellness”, to Discuss the Overlooked Link Between Oral Health & Diabetes for National Dental Hygiene Month
More than 29 million Americans live with diagnosed diabetes — an increase of 12% in just the past three years! According to the CDC, people with diabetes are 2X more likely to develop gum disease — an important but often overlooked health issue to discuss as we kick off National Dental Hygiene Month.
Why does gum disease matter to people with diabetes? Prevalence is higher because diabetics are generally more susceptible to infection and less able to fight germs that invade the gums. If left untreated, severe gum disease could eventually affect blood glucose control and even contribute to the progression of diabetes.
To help kick-off National Dental Hygiene Month, Dr. Natalie Strand, co-author of the forthcoming book A Woman’s Guide to Diabetes: A Path to Wellness, is available for interviews on October 1st to discuss how small steps can make a big difference when it comes to managing diabetes.
She may be best known as the first female winner of “The Amazing Race,” but Natalie Strand is also a medical professional and one of the 29 million Americans living with diabetes. She’ll share some personal and professional tips that go beyond the usual “eat right and exercise.”
Dr. Natalie Strand is the director of integrative medicine at Freedom Pain Hospital in Arizona and has worked closely with the American Diabetes Association, American Association of Diabetes Educators and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to promote exercise and healthy living among people living with diabetes. She has appeared on CNN, CNBC, CBS on shows including “The Early Show,” “The Doctors,” “EXTRA!,” “The Rachel Ray Show.”
Dr. Strand’s childhood was full of culture and travel and Mayan ruins and Moroccan architectural tours were part of her childhood family vacations. When she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 12, she was determined to keep her life as active and adventurous as possible. She continued to travel and eventually pursued medicine, majoring in molecular and cellular biology at the Mayo Clinic, later completing residency training at the University of California, Los Angeles. After completing a post-graduate fellowship in pain management, Dr. Strand competed in and won the 17th season of “The Amazing Race” on CBS, becoming part of the first female team to win that endurance reality competition. Dr. Strand enjoys scuba diving, running, biking, travel, lecturing, speaking French, teaching medical students, and inspiring people to challenge their limitations.
This interview is provided by Colgate-Palmolive
