Here’s something that may astound you. Did you realize that diabetes might have an impact on your brain? The amount of glucose (sugar) that your brain receives is important.
Blood vessels in the brain can be damaged by both high and low blood sugar levels. Learn how controlling your blood sugar levels can help keep your body and mind healthy.
You’re probably aware that keeping your blood sugar in the target range is critical for managing diabetes and avoiding complications such as heart disease and vision loss. Did you realize, however, that high and low blood sugar episodes might impact brain function? Because your brain is sensitive to the amount of sugar it absorbs, this is the case.
Keeping your blood sugar levels as close to your target levels as feasible will help prevent or delay complications. Learn about the link between diabetes and the brain, as well as how controlling your blood sugar can help you maintain your brain and the rest of your body in good shape.
Diabetes and the Brain: Is There a Link?
The command center of your body is your brain. It’s made up of nerve cells that keep your body going, even when you’re sleeping. It also has an impact on how you feel, learn, and remember things.
And your brain needs energy to do all of this work, which it gets from sugar in your blood. The brain is the most energy-hungry organ in the body, requiring half of all sugar energy to function properly.
Your command center may become unbalanced if your blood sugar levels fall outside of your normal range. Diabetes can damage nerves and blood vessels in your brain, just as it can damage nerves and blood vessels in your eyes, feet, and hands.
This can lead to memory and learning issues, mood swings, weight gain, hormonal changes, and, in the long run, more serious issues like Alzheimer’s disease. Because both high and low blood sugar levels can cause these problems, it’s especially important for diabetics to keep their blood sugar in check.
The Brain and Hypoglycemia
When your blood sugar levels go below 70 mg/dL, you have hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), which can be exceedingly hazardous if left untreated.
When your brain is deprived of sugar, it turns off the oxygen supply to the brain. And, unlike high blood sugar, which takes time to influence the brain, low blood sugar symptoms are generally noticeable right away.
Low blood sugar can make you feel dizzy, shaky, or irritable, and it can make it difficult to walk or talk. You may pass out or have seizures if your blood sugar is very low. It has the potential to put you in a coma.
Some persons with low blood sugar have no symptoms, making it difficult to diagnose and treat early. This is why it’s critical to check your blood sugar frequently so you can treat a low blood sugar problem before it becomes serious.
And, while it’s unclear whether low blood sugar has long-term effects on the brain, some research suggests that large drops in blood sugar are linked to depression, memory, and attention span issues. If you have any of these issues and are experiencing frequent low blood sugar episodes, speak with your doctor, who may be able to assist you:
Determine the cause of your low blood sugar episodes.
If necessary, adjust your medication.
To assist with feelings of depression, refer you to a mental health counselor.
The Brain and Hyperglycemia
Because your brain uses sugar for energy, you may believe that “the more sugar I give it, the better off my brain will be.” That, however, could not be further from the truth. Frequent episodes of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) can cause brain stress.
Because the effects of high blood sugar occur gradually and are not immediately apparent, many people are unaware that their brain is being affected.
Over time, high blood sugar damages blood vessels in the brain that carry oxygen-rich blood. Brain cells can die if your brain receives insufficient blood. This is known as brain atrophy, and it can lead to memory and thinking problems, as well as vascular dementia.
Your doctor will determine your personal blood sugar target range. You can help protect your brain by keeping your blood sugar levels as close to target as possible, eating a diet high in vegetables, fiber, and fruit, and engaging in regular physical activity. These healthy habits can aid in diabetes management and brain health.
Keep Brain Health in Mind
There are things you can do to improve or prevent brain health and diabetes problems, such as:
- Adhere to a healthy eating plan that suits your needs.
- Keep a healthy weight.
- Check your blood sugar levels.
- Maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
- Participate in regular physical activity.
- Take medicine as directed.
- Choose to abstain from alcohol or to consume it in moderation.
- If you smoke, you should stop.
- Control your stress.
- Discuss any concerns you have with your doctor.