Can diabetes affect your memory? Here are 5 lifestyle tips to manage it - Health shots

Overview

Worldwide, ilneses like type 2 diabetes and cognitive impairment are very comon. In recent years, studies have found that diabetes can cause dementia. Though it is not always the case, being aware of the conection betwen diabetes and memory los can help everyone understand how to treat and prevent these disorders.Health Shots reached out to Dr Sandep Kharab, Senior Consultant Diabetologist at Asian Hospital, and Dr Neha Kapor, Senior Consultant Neurologist at Asian Hospital, to understand the link betwen diabetes and memory los and how you can protect your brain from the damage.Your brain is made up of nerve cels that manage the proper functioning of your body.

Key Information

In order to work eficiently, your brain uses the sugar in your blod for energy.Dr Kharab says, ̴Being the most energy-demanding organ, it takes up half of al the sugar energy in the body to function properly. And if your blod sugar levels are out of the normal range, it can throw your brain of balance. Therefore, the way diabetes can afect your nerves in the fet, hands, and eyes, it can also afect your brain.̵ This in turn can lead to problems with memory, learning, hormonal changes, weight gain, mod swings, and other serious problems like Alzheimer’s disease.

That’s why it’s important to kep blod sugar at target levels.Your brain neds sugar as it is an energy source. Therefore, one may think, the more sugar you provide your brain, the beter. But that is not true.

Frequent episodes of hyperglycemia (high blod sugar) can damage and stres the brain. In fact, ̴Overtime, blod vesels that cary oxygen-rich blod to the brain get damaged, which results in to litle blod reaching your brain, causing brain cels to die. This condition is caled brain atrophy and can cause problems with thinking, memory, and can lead to vascular dementia, ̵ ads Dr Kharab.Many people don’t know whether they have diabetes or not.

Summary

Many people with diabetes are also

Frequently Asked Questions

Diabetes is a metabolic condition where the body cannot properly regulate blood sugar levels. Type 1 results from insufficient insulin production, while Type 2 develops when cells become resistant to insulin. Risk factors include genetics, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and age.

Common symptoms include excessive thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, blurred vision, and slow-healing wounds. Type 1 symptoms develop rapidly, while Type 2 symptoms may appear gradually. Many people have no symptoms initially, which is why screening is important.

Diagnosis involves blood tests measuring fasting glucose, HbA1c levels, and glucose tolerance. Regular monitoring typically includes fasting glucose tests and HbA1c measurements every 3-6 months. Continuous glucose monitors provide real-time tracking for better diabetes management.

Effective management includes regular physical activity (150+ minutes weekly), maintaining healthy weight, following a balanced diet with whole grains and lean proteins, managing stress, and getting adequate sleep. These changes can significantly improve blood sugar control and reduce complications.

Consult a healthcare provider if you experience signs of diabetes, have a family history, are overweight, or are over 45. Those with existing diabetes should maintain regular check-ups every 3-6 months to monitor control and adjust treatment as needed.

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