UK Edition
How blood sugar levels affect your brain – and what to do about it
When Diane Abbott came under fire over her poor performance in recent interviews, few people outside of her immediate circle would have suspected that diabetes was a contributing factor.
The 63-year-old Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP was first diagnosed with type 2 diabetes two years ago.
Speaking to the Guardian, she said: "During the election campaign, everything went crazy - and the diabetes was out of control, the blood sugar was out of control."
She said her brother had raised concerns after seeing her struggling: "He said 'that is not Diane', because ever since I've been a child I've had a great memory for figures, and he said he knew it was my blood sugar and gave me a lecture about eating and having glucose tablets."
She added: "It is a condition you can manage. I am doing that now and I feel ready to get back to work."
What does diabetes do to you?
In diabetes, the body is not able to to produce or respond to the hormone insulin, which results in abnormal metabolism of carbohydrates and higher levels of glucose in the blood.
Some people with type 2 diabetes use insulin or certain types of tablets to control the condition, which can bring on episodes of hypoglycaemia, where blood glucose levels become very low.
People experiencing hypoglycaemia will usually feel shaky, weak and hungry - and the condition can cause significant cognitive impairment.
Moreover, the fluctuation of blood sugar levels that occurs with diabetes can also affect blood vessels in the brain, which studies have also found may lead to drops in cognitive function.
Hyperglycemia, where blood glucose levels are very high, has been found to be linked with a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
The increased risk affects not only those with diabetes, but also those who simply consume a large amount of sugar.
Dr Omar Kassaar, from the University of Bath, says: "Excess sugar is well known to be bad for us when it comes to diabetes and obesity, but this potential link with Alzheimer's disease is yet another reason that we should be controlling our sugar intake in our diets."
What can you do about it?
To maintain brain health, it is advisable to avoid both hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia as much as possible.
Whether you have diabetes or not, that means keeping a sensible diet, avoiding excessive sugar consumption, maintaining a healthy body weight and getting a sensible amount of exercise.