Type 2 diabetes, or adult-onset diabetes, is a chronic disease that impacts about 34 million Americans. If left untreated or unproperly managed, a person can develop heart and kidney disease, blindness, damage to blood vessels and nerves, or an increased risk of dementia. November is recognized as National Diabetes Awareness Month to raise awareness for the disease and its impact.
Insulin Resistance and the Brain
Type 2 diabetes is common among Americans over the age of 40 and occurs when “either the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces (World Health Organization).” Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood glucose or blood sugar. With poorly regulated blood sugar the body functions at a lower level.
Improper insulin resistance or retention resulting in diabetes can cause symptoms such as extreme thirst, uncontrollable weight fluctuations, fatigue, irritability, increased risk of infections, blurry vision, and more.
Due to a larger aging population, increased obesity and diabetes rates, as well as more cognitive disorder diagnoses, scientists have been digging deeper into the possible link between diabetes and dementia.
Harvard Health reported on a study from 1985 to 2019 that recorded 1,710 cases of diabetes and 639 cases of dementia. “For every 1,000 people examined yearly, the rates of dementia were 8.9 in those without diabetes at age 70,” wrote Dr. Andrew Budson for Harvard Health.
“Comparable rates of dementia for those with diabetes were 10.0 for those with onset up to five years earlier, 13.0 for six to 10 years earlier, and 18.3 for more than 10 years earlier. These striking results clearly show that the earlier you develop diabetes, the greater your risk is for developing dementia.”
According to the National Institute of Health, insulin resistance “can manifest as impaired central regulation of nutrient partitioning, cognitive and mood dysfunction, and brain-specific neuropathology and neurodegeneration.”
Many people living with diabetes report “brain fog” as a reoccurring symptom of too low or high blood sugar. This brain fog, if prolonged, is what many scientists view as detrimental to brain health and function — resulting in dementia.
How to Manage Diabetes Onset
Maintaining a normal blood sugar range can help with brain fog, concentration, and other diabetes symptoms. An overall healthy diet and lifestyle will, in most cases, slow down impact of diabetes on the brain and other organs.
What to do:
- Eat a low-fat diet with a focus on vegetables, proteins, and complex carbohydrates
- Exercise regularly
- Stop smoking and drink alcohol in moderation
- Follow your doctor’s recommended diabetes management plan (prescriptions, A1C testing, etcetera)
As we age, our bodies usually become more susceptible to conditions like diabetes. This is due to lower physical activity, genetic predisposition, and other health issues. So, it is crucial to take preemptive measures early on and meet with your doctor regularly. Being aware of the health of your body and your brain can make a world of difference during the aging process.
Sources:
A growing body of research links type 2 diabetes with risk for Alzheimer’s
Diabetes – World Health Organization
Diabetes – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic
What’s the relationship between diabetes and dementia? – Harvard Health
Brain insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer disease: concepts and conundrums – PMC
Diabetes and Brain Health There’s a Connection – North Kansas City Hospital
