Type 2 diabetes can lead to various health complications, and cognitive decline is a common, underdiagnosed complication. Yet, it can affect your daily activities and independence. Cognitive impairment is more common among senior-aged people, but younger people with type 2 diabetes are also observed to experience mild to moderate cognitive decline.
The Link Between Type 2 Diabetes and Cognitive Decline
The brain controls every aspect of your body, every little movement and function. To do this, the brain uses sugar in your blood to burn as fuel and power your cells. Did you know that your brain consumes the most energy to keep the body functioning? Half of all the energy in your body goes to help your brain do what it needs to do.
If your sugar levels are unstable, your brain also goes off balance. Diabetes can damage the nerves and blood vessels in the brain, affecting your memory, learning, mood, hormones, and more. Over time, it can lead to serious cognitive problems like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Insulin Resistance
Cognitive decline happens because of insulin resistance. Insulin plays a role in regulating cognitive function, but with type 2 diabetes, the brain produces less insulin, contributing to cognitive decline.
High Sugar Levels
Type 2 diabetes is caused by persistently high blood sugar levels, which have been linked to atrophying or the shrinking of the hippocampus. The hippocampus is the part of the brain that’s mainly responsible for memory and learning.
Obesity
Many people who have type 2 diabetes are also obese. If you carry extra weight, you have a higher risk of experiencing cognitive decline. Obesity contributes to the shrinking of the hippocampus, and when its size decreases, it affects cognition and other brain functions.
High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is also a contributing factor to cognitive decline, and many people who have type 2 diabetes also have high blood pressure. It contributes to faster atrophy and causes neuroinflammation, leading to memory loss and a decline in thinking skills. High blood pressure can also contribute to the development of dementia including Alzheimer’s disease.
How to Reduce The Risk and Control Type 2 Diabetes
The longer you have type 2 diabetes, the more severe the effects can be on your cognitive function. Therefore, it makes sense to do something about it and take the necessary steps to avoid or control type 2 diabetes, so you can prevent cognitive decline.
Manage Blood Sugar
Better blood glucose control can help prevent cognitive impairment. Monitor and keep your sugar levels within the normal range.
Eat Healthy Foods Daily
You have to watch what you eat and plan your meals properly when you have diabetes. There’s no one-size-fits-all diet for diabetes control, but in general, you must make healthier food choices.
Eat more fruits and vegetables, reduce the consumption of red and processed meats, cut down on added sugars, and choose healthier (low-GI) carbohydrates.
Be Physically Active
It’s also important to stay physically active. Keep moving every day. Exercise can help reduce insulin resistance and inflammation, reducing your risk of cognitive decline. Plus, physical activities can boost your memory and thinking skills too.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
Keep your weight within a healthy range. This goes hand in hand with what you eat and your physical activities. Weight loss can help improve your memory, attention, and coordination.
Quit Smoking and Stop Drinking Alcohol Excessively
It’s best to quit smoking and avoid drinking alcohol when you have type 2 diabetes. It has been proven time and time again that people who smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol experience faster cognitive decline than those who don’t. Are you prepared to risk it?
Manage Stress
People with type 2 diabetes are prone to elevated stress levels. When you’re constantly stressed it affects your cognitive function. So, you must find ways to manage your stress levels. Do more of the things you enjoy, as long as they are healthy activities.
In Summary
Type 2 diabetes can certainly lead to cognitive decline.
In the past, it was a complication that was not often considered, but now some medical experts are calling some types of dementia ‘type 3 diabetes’, because of the link to high blood sugar levels.
It can cause cognitive impairments, such as poor memory and reduced thinking skills, or worse, dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, it is important to manage your type 2 diabetes symptoms and make better, healthier choices to avoid cognitive decline.
