Diabetes and Brain Damage
The huge impact of diabetes on the brain !
No matter what your age is, this article is relevant to you.
http://www.smart-kit.com/s101/the-huge-impact...
This is because diabetes is becoming an epidemic.
It is now predicted that 1 in 3 American children will grow up to develop diabetes.
But even if you don’t wind up becoming the 1 in 3 who meet the full criteria for diabetes, don’t think you’re off the hook, because “pre-diabetes”-or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) – is also very bad for your brain.
Therefore, significantly more than 1 in 3 Americans will be at risk for the complications of impaired glucose metabolism.
What does diabetes and pre-diabetes do to the brain?
For one, diabetes damages the small blood vessels in the brain, and eventually rots these vessels to the point where they entirely close off.
When this happens, the brain tissue fed by the blood vessel dies (i.e. a stroke). The diabetic brain therefore frequently looks like Swiss cheese, with lots of little holes scattered all over the place.
As you can imagine, a brain littered with many gaping holes does not work well.
Secondly, many new research studies indicate that diabetes, and even pre-diabetes, damages brain cells directly.
Many of you who already have diabetes aren’t aware the importance of keeping your blood sugars as normal and as tightly controlled as possible.
New studies, however, indicate that the better you control your blood sugars, the less brain damage you’ll sustain. The higher the blood sugars run, the more you harm your brain.
For those of you who have pre-diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance, research also suggests that the more normal you keep your blood sugars, the less you’ll damage your brain.
If you don’t have diabetes, and don’t want to fall into the 1 in 3 statistic mentioned above, you need to understand how to eat & live healthy.
Most of us think this involves cutting out “sweets”, but this is only a small part of the equation.
You must also learn to:
markedly reduce carbohydrate intake
exercise and lead a more active lifestyle
lower fat intake, and consume the right kinds of fat, here are more detailed guidelines from the American Diabetes Association :
Recent research has even shown that people with diabetes are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.
Video about Diabetes and Brain Damage :
http://www.diabeticconnect.com/videos/927-dia...
Further Reading on this subject :
http://www.umcutrecht.nl/research/news/2007/0...
Manage your Diabetes, Manage your Life !
~ Mays ~
Read the full article at smart-kit.com 4
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15 replies
@ Liverpool, cut back radically on the carbs. I have cut out ALL breads from my meal plans and have lost 50 lbs in 8 mos. It can be done if you really are determined to do it. I didn't think I could either for the first 15 years with diabetes T 2
i have type 2 its very hard to keep wait off
I tried to access the article at smart.com The page that came up was smartkit.com. and a 404 error message "page not found" displayed.
I can tell that I've had diminished brainpower in the past few years, and it seems to be diminishing more and more as time goes by.
My 11 yr old granddaughter has type 1 diabetes it is very hard for her.
woow
WOW, didn't know it could get that bad! Is there any test to measure how much damage is done?
WOW ! now I know why I can't think no more LOL!
I DIDN'T KKNOW ABOUT BRAIN DAMAGE WITH DIABETES WILL PASS IT IT ON.
My husband has type 1 and we do not have insurance. He hasen't been able to take any medications or insuline for over 7 months… his blood sugar is always high and now I am extremely worried about him. I just don't know what to do!! I would do anything to help his health.
My sister die 2 yrs ago form this very problem. She was a type 1 from age 5 to 57. Her brain looked like swiss cheese. She was legal blind, she couldn't walk with out the aid of two leg braces. The last 7 months she could not walk at all. It sure makes me want to take better care of my self.
Your Friend
JoAnna
I have type 2, and take pills, I set my cellphone alarm to go at 10:00am and 5:00pm, so I don't miss a pill, this along with watching my diet has helped my lower my A1C in three months. Reading about what diabetes can do to your brain makes me want to work harder on getting it under control.
my sugar is always hi and my pills not working for me and i am only 32 yr old and i am very scare
I suffer from hypogycemia and my blood sugars all always on the low side. But i did not know about the effect it had on the brain as far as dementia. My mom died from diabetes and Alzheimer's and she was just 63.
I have so many problems with my eyes that I have not even thouught of what could be happening up there.
Good to know! I always thought the brain was the one part my body that diabetes didn't effect. My sugar has been very low, but fortunately never hospitalized from it (Knock on wood). My memory is bad enough to begin with lol, I don't need anything to contribute in making it worse.
:)Danni