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Subscribe to RSSHigh blood-sugar levels are known to be detrimental to the brain, but even levels that are on the upper end of the normal range may be harmful, according to a new study.
In the study, people whose blood-sugar levels were on the high end of the normal range — not high enough to be categorized as having diabetes or prediabetes — were more likely to have brain shrinkage in certain areas compared with people with lower blood-sugar levels.
"Numerous studies have shown a link between Type 2 diabetes and brain shrinkage and dementia, but we haven't known much about whether people with blood sugar on the high end of normal experience these same effects," said study researcher Nicolas Cherbuin, of Australian National University in Canberra.
"These findings suggest that even for people who do not have diabetes, blood-sugar levels could have an impact on brain health," Cherbuin said. "More research is needed, but these findings may lead us to re-evaluate the concept of normal blood-sugar levels, and the definition of diabetes."
The study involved 249 people ages 60 to 64, whose blood-sugar levels were in the normal range as defined by the World Health Organization. The participants had brain scans at the start of the study, and again an average of four years later.
The study was published Sept. 4 in the journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
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BENFOTIAMINE is in part the answer. See http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/content/133/5/1342.full
It's available OTC.
going vegetarian and gluten free is the answer. no pills are needed!
Agree.
There is no quick fix for diabetes. Diet, regular exercise and overall moderation is the best way to reduce your chances of getting diabetes and other conditions that plague the US today. People know this, but sometimes they don't always follow. I think that not everyone realizes the complications that arise from diabetes, as well as the medications used to treat it
http://www.publichealthwatchdog.com/study-says-actos-other-similar-diabetes-meds-can-increase-chance-of-bladder-cancer/
Agreed. "Diet, regular exercise and overall moderation is the best way to reduce your chances of getting diabetes and other conditions that plague the US today."
Popping ever more pills is not the answer. In fact, that road can be, and often is, detrimental. "Fix" one malady but the side effects may well start you on the road to other medical problems.
Guidelines for prescribing medication for Type 2 diabetes dropped from 140 to 126 a few years ago and it looks like that may drop again, ALL ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF RESEARCHERS PAID BY DRUG COMPANIES. Who do you think benefits most?
Did the participants in the study constantly have high blood sugar?
There is a difference between your blood sugar going up for a few minutes and having it high for 10 hours or possibly days (or for the entire four years).
Sounds like Big Pharma is fishing for more profits. They're not making enough on diabetes medications, so it's time, once again, to redefine the parameters of 'perfect' blood sugar so more people will need to 'control' it in order to stave off the vague future health threat of brain shrinkage. Wait and watch for a new drug aimed at those with 'upper normal' or 'lower normal' blood sugar or a change in what's considered 'normal' so a whole new crop of sick people will bloom overnight.
The United States is controlled by the pharmaceutical and Insurance industries............end of
What number is considered high normal?
It seems over about 90 mg/dl, but I'll try to find some verification.
Poor article and reporting. The only valid blood sugar level testing that can be used for criteria is the long term blood sugar test or A1C. Without reference to these numbers, the article is just sensational quasi-scientific mumbo jumbo worthy of a Sunday night infomercial.
AB-1981; Are you shilling for a drug company marketing Benfotiamine? Any competent diabetes MD specialist will emphasize that long term bllod sugar levels are most important for evalaluation of diet control.
Mike, are you freaking dumb? You should first google what it is. It is not a pharmaceutical. It is a fat soluble form of vitamin B1 that is more bio-available to the body including the brain. It protects from excess sugar and "AGE" damage. Did I say that blood sugar shouldn't be controlled? No. In the real world, one needs a multifaceted approach. But please feel free to continue to live with your dogmatic singular viewpoint.
AB* I bet you are a tea party sycophant too since they use similar attack tactics. The article was nothing more than science sensationalism offering just partial information. Any serious scientific journal would have rejected the article if they did not present full information on long term average blood sugar levels. I* have Type 2 so I know what I am talking about. Benfotiamine is one of a class of pop culture blood sugar control agents promoted my midnite infomercials. Include chromium picolonate, cinnamon, turmeric in these categories. You can take all the supplements you want but if you don't control weight and sugar load, very little can be done for you even with the conventional diabetes drugs such as metformin, actos, etc..
Mike, why do you insist on talking about things you know nothing of? You apparently do this A LOT. Go read the journal article yourself if you want specific numbers. Go study the effects of each of the chemicals you listed. This news article's author owes you nothing. Of course we both agree that weight and sugar intake must be strongly controlled, but I'm saying it's not good enough. Enjoy your bubble while it lasts.
Pills are scarce comfort to us Type 1 diabetics.I have no pancreas at all & have to live on the needle.It doesn't help that the drug companies have quadrupled the cost of my insulin over the past few years,just from sheer greed.
Greek, true, I know as I have several family members who are Type 1 diabetics. However, if you are not already working with a doctor/nutritionist who is up to date, did you know you can majorly reduce the amount of insulin you need by restricting simple carbohydrates (sugars, fruit fructose, starches such as potatoes and wheat-based products)? The old 40 - 60 carbs per meal that is still often preached is too high. My mom and niece now see a nutrionist who has them eating lower carbs and calculating insulin needs off of carbs consumed. They both have greatly improved blood sugar control. Read up on it, the facts are out there in many studies.