Hyperglycemia means high glucose or sugar levels in your blood. The hormone insulin helps move sugar from your bloodstream to your cells. Your cells then use sugar for energy. Hyperglycemia happens when your body doesnāt have enough insulin to do this task. As a result, it can lead to many health problems like diabetes. Studies show there is also a link between hyperglycemia and dementia. And understanding this link plays a role in steps you can take to prevent both conditions.
First, a 2013 meta-analysis of 28 studies showed people with diabetes have a 73% greater risk of dementia. In addition, they have a 56% and 127% higher risk for Alzheimerās and vascular dementia, respectively. Those with diabetes frequently experience hyperglycemia.
Second, another 2016 meta-analysis found people with type 2 diabetes have about 60% higher risk of dementia than people without diabetes. Moreover, the study showed women may be more prone to vascular dementia than men.
Third, a 2013 analysis published in Epidemiologic Reviews found that the link between diabetes and dementia is higher among people with the gene Apolipoprotein E É4, which is also a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.
But wait, thereās more on the link between hyperglycemia and dementia.
Researchers conducted the first-ever study that links high blood sugar levels to dementia. The New England Journal of Medicine published this study in 2013.
Dr. David N. Nathan and colleagues looked into 2,067 adults with dementia from the Adult Changes in Thought study. It included 1,228 women and 839 men with an average age of 76 years old. Among the adults, 232 had diabetes while the rest did not.
The researchers followed up on the adults after about six years. They found out that 74 adults with diabetes developed dementia. And among the adults that didn't have diabetes, higher blood sugar was correlated with a higher incidence of dementia.
People with high blood sugar levels could also have insulin resistance. Some researchers are actually calling dementia diabetes type 3, where brain neurons stop responding to insulin.
The study does not explain how the link between hyperglycemia and dementia happens. But it reveals a possible relationship between the two medical problems.
More recent research also supports the earlier study by Dr. Nathan and colleagues. The American Academy of Neurology and Neurology published the study by Whitmer et al. in 2021.
The study involved 2,821 older adults with type 1 diabetes. Their average age was 56 years old. From 1997 to 2015, the researchers noted emergency cases due to hypo- or hyperglycemia. In contrast to hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia means low blood sugar levels.
The study found 398 people with a history of severe low blood sugar. In contrast, 335 had severe high blood sugar. Another 87 had both hypo- and hyperglycemia. The study also found that 153 adults developed dementia after a follow-up of seven years.
The researchers found that 66% of adults had an increased risk of dementia. Moreover, both hypo- and hyperglycemic adults had six times the risk of dementia as those with normal blood sugar.
The researchers concluded that severe glycemic cases could negatively affect the brain. This means hypo- and hyperglycemia events in older adults with type 1 diabetes increase their risk of dementia. However, the study does not confirm low, or high blood sugar events cause dementia. But it shows a link between hyperglycemia and dementia.
Whitmer and colleagues suggest controlling blood sugar levels to reduce your risk. They found people with high sugar or diabetes are at risk for dementia. Thus, managing blood sugar is crucial to decreasing the risk. There are ways to maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
But first, you need to know if you have hyperglycemia.
Did you know that there are about 37 million Americans with diabetes? About 8.5 million are undiagnosed. How would you know if you might be one of them?
Too much sugar in your blood is associated with diabetes. In addition, hyperglycemia itself can be a symptom of diabetes. Below are questions to determine if you have high blood sugar. Answer the following with a āyesā or āno.ā
You may have high blood sugar if you mainly answered āyesā to many of these questions. In this case, it's best to consult a medical practitioner for further assessment.
One way of knowing for sure is through oral and urine tests. An oral glucose test result of 140-200 mg/dl indicates high sugar levels. A result higher than 100 mg/dl for the fasting blood glucose test can indicate prediabetes. 70 - 100 mg/dl is normal.
The higher the figures, the more likely it is that you have diabetes. It equates to an oral test of 200 mg/dl and above. At the same time, a blood test of 126 mg/dl and above indicates diabetes.
Based on studies, there is a link between hyperglycemia and dementia. Therefore, it is wise to take steps to lower your risk of developing dementia.
Experts suggest exercise, weight control, and a proper diet to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. The food you eat plays a significant role in managing your sugar. These three foods can help stabilize blood sugar levels. Take note, though, that the effects may vary for each person. Therefore, it is still best to consult a medical practitioner.
Carbohydrates provide quick energy. But overeating carbohydrates can lead to a rise in blood sugar levels. So instead, choose lower-carb foods like whole grains and legumes. They contain essential nutrients while taking longer to digest and helping you avoid blood sugar spikes. These are foods with a low glycemic index. Moreover, they help make your weight stable, especially if you have type-2 diabetes.
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables or soluble fibers. These high-fiber foods improve blood sugar levels. It works well for insulin resistance and improves your metabolic profile. A total of about 14 grams of fiber for every 1,000 calories you eat is advisable. Thatās about 35 grams of fiber for men and 25 grams for women.
Studies show probiotics may regulate and lower blood sugar levels. Examples of foods high in probiotics are kefir, yogurt, and fermented foods like kimchi. Another study from 2017 showed probiotics can improve the fat metabolism of people with type 2 diabetes.
Hyperglycemia and dementia are two different but interlinked health problems. Like high blood sugar, dementia may be prevented before it develops.
Dementia is an umbrella term for loss of mental functions like memory, reasoning, and learning. Its severity affects how people live, socialize, and react to situations. Alzheimerās, a form of dementia, has been dubbed ābrain-specific type-2 diabetes.ā Some experts even call it ātype-3 diabetes.ā
About 5.8 million Americans have dementia, including Alzheimerās. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cases could rise to 14 million more by 2060.
High blood sugar poses a risk for dementia. Aging and developmental disabilities, too, may lead to dementia. For example, some people who have autism may be at higher risk for developing dementia later in life.
Although the exact causes of dementia are unknown, dementia exhibits distinct signs and symptoms. Here are some of the tell-tale signs of dementia:
A person with suspected dementia should seek immediate medical consultation. Your doctor should conduct tests that include a thorough family and medical history, along with physical exams like blood work and brain scans. Finally, you would be given cognitive, neurological, and psychiatric tests to assess mental function.
Hyperglycemia and dementia can both be prevented. And both health problems have similar patterns when it comes to prevention. This includes weight management, exercise, avoiding alcohol and cigarette smoking, and eating a healthy diet.
Some diets contribute to preventing dementia more than others. The Mediterranean diet is one of these. Thereās also the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH). A combination diet of Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) is most beneficial.
The Mediterranean diet is rich in whole grains, seafood, vegetables, nuts, and fruits. It also contains plenty of healthy, unsaturated fats. In contrast, people on a Western diet eat excessive saturated ābadā fats, red meats, and sugars.
Researchers in 2018 conducted brain scans to compare the effects of these two diets. Middle-aged people with Western diets had more beta-amyloid deposits than Mediterranean dieters. These protein deposits in the brain are common in people with Alzheimerās.
DASH diet is like the Mediterranean diet, focusing on whole grains, nuts, fruits, and vegetables. In addition, it incorporates more low-fat dairy, fish, and poultry.
Studies support it. In aĀ review of 56 articles, lower cognitive decline was found among DASH dieters. Moreover, there was a lower risk of Alzheimerās as well.
The MIND Diet
The Mediterranean and DASH diets are combined in the MIND diet, which adds berries in particular. Studies have cited MIND as reducing dementia. Reviews of all three diets have found that the MIND diet has the most potent effect.
These health problems cause stress, affecting your NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) Stress Response, which is a model describing how your organs and systems handle stress. You could think of the NEM Stress Response as a pie, divided into six slices. The six slices are made up of three related organs or body systems each, and these circuits help your body react to stress.
The aim is to keep the wholeness of the pie to fight stress. Any break in the pie - or weakness in a key organ system - can lead to symptoms of stress.
In the case of hyperglycemia, the stress comes from your body failing to make enough insulin. As a result, you suffer from the symptoms of high blood sugar. If left alone, prolonged high blood sugar can potentially lead to diabetes. Moreover, hyperglycemia is linked to dementia, where the symptoms are also considered stress.
The Bioenergetics Circuit is the circuit most involved in maintaining your blood sugar and metabolism through your pancreas, thyroid, and liver. It is also responsible for converting carbohydrates, fats, and proteins into energy.
Proper diet, exercise, and a healthy lifestyle help you cope with the symptoms of hyperglycemia and dementia. But Bioenergetics Circuit Therapy offers more. This holistic approach teaches you about the energy flow in your body and how you can identify blockages. It works by relieving stress, correcting the imbalance, and promoting natural healing.
Experts consider long-term hyperglycemia to be the hallmark of diabetes. And diabetes is associated with dementia and conditions like Alzheimerās. Based on many scientific studies, we can no longer deny the link between these health problems.
Eating probiotics, low carb, and fiber-rich foods helps lower your blood sugar levels. Moreover, the Mediterranean, DASH, and MIND diets all work well to prevent dementia.
However, it is good practice to ask your medical practitioner about your nutrition needs. Moreover, you can complement your diet with exercise, a healthy lifestyle, and Bioenergetics Circuit Therapy for best results.
For more information about Bioenergetics Circuit Therapy for hyperglycemia and dementia, you can call us for a free consultation at +1 (626) 571-1234.
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There is a link between hyperglycemia and dementia. Hyperglycemia can be prevented by eating low carb, low-fiber foods, and probiotics to lower blood sugar. While Mediterranean, DASH, and MIND diet eating patterns are know to prevent dementia. You can complement these diets with exercise, a healthy lifestyle, and therapy.
