Apr 15 2009
Low Blood Sugar in Diabetics increases the risk of Dementia
Type 2 diabetes patients who experience sever hypoglycemia, the condition when blood sugar level drops dangerously, are at great risk of developing dementia in later stage of life, the findings of a new study by Kaiser Permanente suggests. This is for the first time researchers have found a link between type 2 diabetes, hypoglycemia and increased risk of dementia.
The study, findings of which appeared in the latest issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, looked at data of 16,667 type 2 diabetes patients. The data were collected over a period of 20 years and after analysis of those data the researchers found that older patients with one episode of hypoglycemia were at 26 % increased risk of dementia. And the risk increases with episodes of hypoglycemic. For example, after two episodes the risk increases by 115% and after three or more episodes of hypoglycemic the risk of dementia increases by 160%.
It means that a drop in blood sugar level may result in some very severe consequences. So, balanced blood sugar level is critical for type 2 diabetes patients. Doctors must take care while prescribing measures to control blood sugar levels in diabetics. Now, the researchers, led by Rachel A. Whitmer of Kaiser Permanente, would like to study how hypoglycemic episodes affect the functions of brain.
