The Scary Way Diabetes Affects Thinking Skills And Brain Function

[IDemo]

A growing body of research is finding that diabetes can take as devastating a toll on the brain as it takes on the body.

A new study published this week in the journal Neurology shows that people with type 2 diabetes demonstrate a decline in cognitive skills and ability to perform daily activities over the course of only two years.

These changes are linked with an impaired ability to regulate blood flow in the brain, due in part to inflammation, which is a common component of type 2 diabetes.

Normally, the brain distributes blood as needed to areas of increased neural activity. In diabetic individuals, however, this process becomes impaired.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/07/10/type-2-diabetes-brain_n_7763956.html

[Ms. Toad]

1. I know this is old, but I'm new to the game so I'll bump it.

This is the most dramatic change I've noticed since diagnosis 3 months ago.

When I was diagnosed with diabetes 3 months ago, I immediately changed what I was eating to keep my blood sugar in the normal range (not diabetes normal, but true normal). and it has made a very dramatic difference on how well my brain functions! I knew I had been in a fog for the last couple of years - I attributed it to exhaustion (my job demands about 60 hours a week, sometimes more).

* I noticed immediately how much more clearly I was able to think.
* In addition, it was pointed out to me that my affect changed dramatically at one point (I hadn't noticed). Once pointed out, I realized I suddenly felt exhausted. I tested my blood glucose and it was in the 130s (above normal, not terribly high, but 20% above the average for the preceding few weeks). A couple of days later I noticed the same phenomenon - suddenly I felt exhausted, I tested, and again it was above 130.

The second correlation was much more dramatic, and surprising, but it fits nicely with this study. I had not decided yet whether my dietary change (to Low carb, moderate protein) was permanent, but these two things I've noticed are certainly pushing me toward making it permanent.

(Although I do hope that over time I can tolerate moderately larger quantities of carbs without bumping my blood sugar up).

[TexasBushwhacker]

2. Some doctors call dementia Type 3 Diabetes n/t