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Cognitive Dysfunction And Diabetes Mellitus

Cognitive Dysfunction and Diabetes Mellitus

Cognitive Dysfunction and Diabetes Mellitus

I. Introduction
DIABETES MELLITUS IS a complex metabolic disease that can have devastating effects on multiple organs in the body. Diabetes is the leading cause of end stage renal disease in the United States (1) and is also a common cause of vision loss, neuropathy, and cardiovascular disease. A less addressed and not as well recognized complication of diabetes is cognitive dysfunction. Patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus have been found to have cognitive deficits that can be attributed to their disease. Both hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia have been implicated as causes of cognitive dysfunction, and many patients fear that recurrent hypoglycemia will impair their memory over time. Although much research has been done, the pathophysiology underlying this complication is not well understood, and the most appropriate methods to diagnose, treat, and prevent cognitive dysfunction in diabetes have not yet been defined. In this article, we will review the nature of cognitive dysfunction in type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, the pathophysiology of cognitive dysfunction secondary to diabetes, methodologies used to assess cognitive deficits in patients with diabetes, and potential future directions of research that are needed to advance our understanding of this often overlooked complication of diabetes.
The purpose of this article is to present a comprehensive review of the literature regarding the subject of cognitive dysfunction in diabetes mellitus. To do this, we performed MEDLINE searches for such key words and terms as “diabetes mellitus,” “cognitive fun Continue reading

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Diabetes Warning Signs: Learn About the Signs to Be Prepared

Diabetes Warning Signs: Learn About the Signs to Be Prepared

Whether it be type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes some of the early warning signs are the same. By recognizing the signs you will be able to help your doctor give an early diagnosis and start treatment as soon as possible.
Yet, type 2 diabetes evolves slowly and there is a chance you might not get many warning signs.
Diabetes is a very serious illness but, at the same time, it’s common.
If you have diabetes, you need to regularly supervise your blood sugar levels and keep them under control within the adequate range.
Many people don’t know that there are different types of diabetes. It’s even common for those who are diagnosed to be surprised they have the disease, since symptoms appear gradually over the span of months or even years.
In this article, we’ll look at some of the diabetes warning signs you should pay close attention to.
Diabetes Warning Signs
The warning signs for diabetes can happen progressively or appear all of the sudden. Different types of diabetes may have similar indicators or very different ones.
Special attention should be paid to the following symptoms since they can indicate danger:
Extreme thirst
Dry mouth
Frequent urges to urinate
Hunger
Constant fatigue
Irritability
Blurry vision
Injuries that don’t scar or do so with difficulty
Itchy or dry skin
Constant fungal infections
Type 1 Diabetes Warning Signs
This type of diabetes is diagnosed generally in children and very young adults, even though it can happen to any age group.
Children tend to experience the following additional symptoms, so pay close attention:
Sudden and involuntary weigh Continue reading

Gestational Diabetes - My Story and Recipes

Gestational Diabetes - My Story and Recipes

This is a little bit of a departure from my normal blog posts. However, I thought sharing my experience with gestational diabetes would be good to raise awareness and let other pregnant gals hear a first hand account. I hope you keep reading and that you learn something. The recipes, ideas and meal suggestions are healthy for anyone diabetic or not.
Heading into my third trimester gestational diabetes was not on my radar. It blindsided me. I didn't expect to be diagnosed. I've been very proactive about my health. I've focused on eating well, maintaining a good weight and getting exercise. I only had two of the risk factors: I'm over 25 and I do have history of type II diabetes from both my maternal grandfather and paternal grandmother. Although they both were diagnosed late in life and already had other health problems so it just didn't seem relevant. When I failed the first 1-hour non-fasting glucose test I figured it was a fluke and I would pass the longer 3-hour fasting glucose test. I didn't.
For the 1-hour glucose test, anything over 130mg/dL (or 140mg/dL depending on your doctor) is high enough to warrant the three-hour test. If your blood sugar is over 200mg/dL they don't even bother with the 3-hour test and confirm a diagnosis of gestational diabetes. Usually pregnant women are tested between 24 and 28 weeks. At week 28 my blood sugar tested at 138 mg/dL.
What is considered elevated blood glucose levels vary by doctor and practice. From what I've read, I go to a fairly conservative practice. Below you can see the American Diabetes Association scores to diagnose gest Continue reading

Could a Diabetes Drug Help Beat Alzheimer's Disease?

Could a Diabetes Drug Help Beat Alzheimer's Disease?

Most of the 20 million people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the U.S. take metformin to help control their blood glucose. The drug is ultrasafe: millions of diabetics have taken it for decades with few side effects beyond gastrointestinal discomfort. And it is ultracheap: a month's supply costs $4 at Walmart. And now new studies hint that metformin might help protect the brain from developing diseases of aging, even in nondiabetics.
Diabetes is a risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases, but using metformin is associated with a dramatic reduction in their incidence. In the most comprehensive study yet of metformin's cognitive effects, Qian Shi and her colleagues at Tulane University followed 6,000 diabetic veterans and showed that the longer a patient used metformin, the lower the individual's chances of developing Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and other types of dementia and cognitive impairment. In line with some of the previous, smaller studies of long-term metformin use, patients in the new study who used the drug longer than four years had one quarter the rate of disease as compared with patients who used only insulin or insulin plus other antidiabetic drugs—bringing diabetics' risk level to that of the general population. The findings were presented in June at the American Diabetes Association's Scientific Sessions meeting.
Even in the absence of diabetes, Alzheimer's patients often have decreased insulin sensitivity in the brain, says Suzanne Craft, a neuroscientist who studies insulin resistance in neurodegenerative disease at the Wake Forest Scho Continue reading

Uninsured with diabetes in the USA

Uninsured with diabetes in the USA

The USA is in the midst of some very scary changes in healthcare. As a type 1 uninsured diabetic for the past six years, I have miraculously been able to survive. I have not had an A1C test in those six years, I cannot afford to test my blood sugar every day, and I have gotten off the insulin pump that I depended on for 20 years. I have had times of desperation where I have used expired insulin, skipped some meals and diluted my insulin with water until I could afford to buy my next vial, but I am alive. I would like to suggest a few things to those who are possibly facing a future with no insurance.
Hoard as many supplies as you can. Ask your doctor to give as many refills or samples as they can, because when you lose your insurance those supplies are no longer covered. My insulin at one point cost me $800 a month. I bought it until I could no longer afford it. Because I was no longer insured and unable to afford to go for doctor visits, my prescription eventually expired. When this happens, you are left with going to an emergency room or, like me, you have to go back to basics with no pump and old, cheaper insulin that I found barely works for me.
Do not expect a pharmacist to help you. Some might, but I was told that I had no business buying insulin if I did not know how to use it correctly. I suggest coming up with a game plan. Ask your doctor for an emergency sliding scale to figure out what happens when you cannot get the insulin you need. Ask about any equivalents of what you use now and learn about the prices of them. If you are not already in a patient assistance p Continue reading

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