Understanding diabetes

In 2012, 9.3 percent of people in the United States had diabetes. That means that about 29.1
million Americans had diabetes in 2012. This number is growing. Every year, doctors diagnose
an estimated 1.4 million new cases in the United States.
Diabetes is a disease that involves having higher-than-normal blood glucose levels. This is
known as hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia occurs when your body cant produce or respond to
insulin. Your pancreas produces the hormone insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. Because of
the reduced insulin production or resistance to the hormone, blood sugar levels tend to be high.

Type 1 diabetes
This is also known as juvenile diabetes. An autoimmune process may cause type 1 diabetes. If
you have type 1 diabetes, your bodys antibodies attack the insulin-producing cells in your
pancreas. You need insulin to help glucose molecules enter the cells. Once glucose enters the
cells, your body can use it to create energy. People with type 1 diabetes dont produce adequate
amounts of insulin. This leads to higher than normal levels of blood sugar.
Insulin injections are a necessary part of life for people living with type 1 diabetes. As of 2012,
approximately 1.25 million Americans had type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes
This is the most common form of diabetes worldwide. If you have type 2 diabetes, your body
produces insulin, but it cant use it in the way that it should. This resistance causes the pancreas
to produce more insulin. The added insulin increases the hormone levels in the bloodstream. This
can have long-term negative effects on the brain.
Check out: Diabetes by the numbers: Facts, statistics, and you

Understanding memory loss

Memory loss is a normal phenomenon of aging. There are differences between memory loss that
occurs with age and the complex memory changes caused by Alzheimers disease (AD) and
other related degenerative diseases.
Forgetting names and misplacing objects are both associated with age-related memory loss.
These symptoms typically wont impact your ability to live independently.
More serious symptoms of memory loss can include:

forgetting commonly used words, sometimes while speaking

repeating the same questions

getting lost while walking or driving

experiencing sudden mood changes

being unable to follow directions

These symptoms point to the possible onset of dementia. If youre experiencing any of these
symptoms, you should see your doctor. Together, you can figure out whats causing your
symptoms.
The most common type of dementia is AD. Recent research has suggested that AD may be
strongly connected to having high blood sugar levels.

How diabetes relates to memory loss

Memory loss and general cognitive impairment, which are both symptoms of AD, may be
connected to type 2 diabetes. Damage to the blood vessels is common in people with diabetes.
This damage can lead to cognitive problems and vascular dementia. These are often seen with
symptoms of AD.
The results of one study show that AD is closely connected to insulin signaling and glucose
metabolism in the brain. The brain contains insulin receptors. These structures recognize insulin.
Insulin affects cognition and memory. When the insulin in your body is imbalanced, it increases
your risk for AD. This imbalance can occur in people with type 2 diabetes.
Scientists also looked at how symptoms of metabolic syndrome affect memory. Metabolic
syndrome is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Symptoms of the syndrome can include:

increased blood pressure

high blood sugar levels

abnormal cholesterol levels

increased body fat especially around the waist

The study concluded that the connection between high levels of sugar and AD goes both ways.
People with metabolic syndrome have a higher risk of developing AD. People with AD often
develop hyperglycemia and insulin resistance.
These conclusions are reinforced by a review published in Frontiers in Neuroscience. Although
researchers dont know the full extent of the connection at this time, the connection between
insulin signaling and Alzheimers disease is clear.
Keep reading: Old age or something else? 10 Early signs of dementia

What is the outlook?

Once your doctor has determined the cause of your memory loss, theyll work with you to create
your treatment plan. This may include lifestyle changes if youre at risk for or have already been
diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
If AD causes your memory loss, your doctor may recommend cholinesterase inhibitors to start.
These inhibitors tend to delay the worsening of symptoms and can improve functionality in
people with dementia. Depending on how the disease is progressing, they may prescribe
additional medication.

Tips to limit or prevent memory loss

Follow these tips to improve brain cognition and prevent memory loss
Switch to a wholesome diet based on fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats.
You should also limit your intake of high-fat foods. This is known as the Mediterranean diet.
This diet has been connected to a lower risk of chronic degenerative diseases such as AD.
Add more omega-3 fatty acids your diet. Omega-3s have may help improve heart health and
prevent cognitive decline.
Treatments from traditional Chinese medicine have had positive results in managing the
symptoms of metabolic syndrome. Active compounds such as berberine or the ones found in
ginseng and bitter melon may help with glucose and lipid metabolism.
You should check with your doctor before taking any supplements. If you consult an alternative
health practitioner, make sure to keep a list of all supplements that youre taking and consult with
your doctor. You should discuss any possible interactions with other medication you may be
taking.
References:

Bedse, G., Domenico, F. D., Serviddio, G., & Cassano, T. (2015, June 16). Aberrant
insulin signaling in Alzheimers disease. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 9, 204. Retrieved
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Diabetes and cognitive decline. (2015). Retrieved from
https://www.alz.org/national/documents/topicsheet_diabetes.pdf

Kim, B., & Feldman, E. L. (2015). Insulin resistance as a key link for the increased risk
of brain cognitive impairment in the metabolic syndrome. Experimental & Molecular
Medicine, 47, el49. Retrieved from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4351418/pdf/emm20153a.pdf

Larson, E. B. (2016, March 10). Risk factors for cognitive decline and dementia.
Retrieved from http://www.uptodate.com/contents/risk-factors-for-cognitive-decline-anddementia?source=see_link&sectionName=Diabetes+mellitus&anchor=H10

Mayo Clinic Staff (2014, June 5). Memory loss: When to seek help. Retrieved from
http://www.mayoclinic.org/memory-loss/art-20046326

Profenno, L. A., Porsteinsson, A. P., & Faraone, S.V. (2010, March 15). Meta-analysis of
Alzheimers disease risk with obesity, diabetes, and related disorders. Biological
Psychiatry, 67(6), 505-512. Retrieved from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19358976?dopt=Abstract

Rathod, R., Kale, R., Joshi, S., (2016). Novel insights on the effect of vitamin B12 and
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df

Scarmeas, N., Stern, Y., Tang, M.-X., Mayeux, R., & Luchsinger, J. A. (2011, January
21). Mediterranean diet and risk for Alzheimers disease. Annals of Neurology, 59(6),
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Statistics about diabetes. (2014, June 10). Retrieved from

http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/statistics/?referrer=https://www.google.ca/

Yin, J., Zhang, J., & Ye,. J. (2008, June). Traditional Chinese medicine in treatment of
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