Photo Credit: monkeybusinessimages / istockphoto.com
7. Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia
Since diabetes can affect every system in the body, it should come as no surprise that brain activities like memory, problem solving, and speech can suffer. Not only can an excess of blood sugar damage the blood vessels in the brain and lead to cell death (vascular dementia), it also appears to affect your chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, recent research suggests that diabetes and Alzheimer’s share some common markers (like insulin resistance at the cellular level), and some experts believe Alzheimer’s is actually a form of diabetes.
Better blood sugar control is the best way to ward off either type of brain condition, and be sure to speak to your doctor about any family history of dementia.
Type 1 diabetes, once known as juvenile diabetes, is primarily diagnosed in children and young adults and affects just a small fraction of the population
