Effects of Diabetes on human Brain

If you are reading this article, chances are that diabetes has touched your life or the life of someone close to you. Diabetes can be a frightening and personally devastating diagnosis. Persistent high blood glucose levels in diabetic patients can lead to complications like microvascular damage in the eye, kidneys and nervous system, macrovascular damage of the coronary, cerebral and peripheral arteries. Heart disease, stroke, vision loss, kidney disease and nerve damage are just a few of the complications of diabetes.

Neurologically, diabetes is a risk factor for stroke, nerve damage and cognitive impairment.

A)     Stroke affects blood supply to a part of brain and can cause impairment of vision, memory, movement and other brain functions.

B)    Cognitive impairment is evidenced by slowing of the thought processes and memory retrieval.

C)     The other major neurological complication is caused by peripheral neuropathy and nerve damage. About 60% to 70% of people with diabetes have mild to severe nerve damage and peripheral neuropathy. There are several types of neuropathy:  peripheral neuropathy, focal (mononeuropathy or a single nerve), generalized symmetric and autonomic neuropathy. 

1. When diabetes affects a single nerve, the diabetic may have double vision (6th cranial nerve), hand pain and numbness (carpal tunnel syndrome) or leg weakness (femoral nerve). 
2. When diabetes affects multiple nerves (generalized), symptoms include tingling, burning, electric shock like sensations and pain in the feet, worse at night.  Some patients also complain of numbness or feeling as if they are wearing socks or tight bands while others have no symptoms. The examination shows loss of pinprick, temperature and vibratory sensation and position sense in the legs.  Ankle reflexes are often absent.
3. Autonomic neuropathy happens when autonomic nervous system is affected. It is related to bladder symptoms of urgency and incontinence, bowel symptoms of constipation, impotence and dizziness due to low blood pressure or hypotension when standing. Diabetics with autonomic involvement are at risk for sudden death or heart attack.

D)    Depression is also more common among diabetic older age group than non-diabetics of same age.
Neurological complications can cause serious effects on the health of the person. Neurologic complications of diabetes can be prevented by strict control of blood glucose. All diabetics should be screened for nerve damage by focused history and regular examination that includes testing for sensation and reflexes. Combined efforts of medical team and the patient can alter the disease process of neurological complications.