Diabetes and Brain Health: There's a Connection

Diabetes is a serious, lifelong health condition that affects millions of people around the world. This condition occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or use it properly. Insulin is a hormone the pancreas creates to allow the body to regulate blood sugar for energy. Many people know the physical symptoms of diabetes, like high or low blood sugar levels and extreme thirst. But many don’t know how diabetes can impact brain health and function.

Recent studies show there is more of a connection between diabetes and brain health than previously understood. Your brain is a vital organ that uses blood sugar to keep your body functioning well. If your blood sugar levels fall outside of your target range, it can lead to temporary symptoms of cognitive impairment. Untreated high or low blood sugar over time can lead to more chronic cognitive conditions.

Diabetes Cognitive Impairments

When your blood sugar levels drop or rise outside of your target range, it can lead to brain fog, which causes symptoms like:

• Concentration issues
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Fatigue

If treated promptly, these symptoms should disappear. But if this isn’t treated and diabetes continues to be poorly managed, over time it can lead to long-term complications and increase the risk of memory loss, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, dementia is a general term for loss of memory, language and other thinking abilities that affect daily life. Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia that affects behavior, memory and thinking. People with Type 1 diabetes are at a greater risk of developing dementia. Those with Type 2 diabetes are at a greater risk of developing Alzheimer's if their blood sugar levels aren’t consistently managed well.

Keep Your Brain Healthy

There are things you can do to improve or prevent temporary and chronic cognitive impairments caused by diabetes, including:

• Eat a healthy, low-fat diet
• Exercise regularly
• Track blood sugar to stay within target levels
• Stop smoking and drink alcohol in moderation
• Work with your doctor or a diabetes educator to build a care plan for managing blood sugar levels

If you have diabetes and worry about your brain health and function, talk with your doctor. Find a Meritas Health doctor who can help you live well with diabetes.

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Melissa Zalonis

Melissa Zalonis is a registered nurse and certified diabetes care and education specialist. She is the program coordinator for the Living With Diabetes program and has worked at North Kansas City Hospital since 1994. She has specialized in diabetes nursing since 2008. She belongs to the hospital’s Speakers Bureau and is a member of the American Diabetes Association and the American Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists.