
If you have type 2 diabetes and do not control your blood sugar, you may be putting more than your heart, eyes and kidneys at risk – you also may be putting your brain at risk. People with diabetes are one and a half times more Likely to Develop Cognitive Impairment, or trouble with memory and thinking, including Alzheimer’s disease.
Studying Blood Sugar and the Brain
Two recent studies back up previous evidence that diabetes can alter brain function. In one study, reported in Neuropsychology, adults with diabetes performed Significantly worse than adults without diabetes on two tests of mental processing. In the other study, reported in Diabetes Care, adults with diabetes who had higher blood-glucose levels – compared with diabetes patients who controlled their blood-glucose levels – performed worse on tasks that required memory, speed and the ability to focus without being distracted by various stimuli.
It’s not exactly clear how blood sugar levels might affect mental function. Higher blood sugar levels cause cognitive impairment. Other factors might also be involved. For instance, having a lower-than-normal response to insulin might increase your blood sugar and odd brain processes.
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