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Sunday, January 18, 2009

Can Diabetes Cause Memory Loss?

This is a question I was asked by a reader and wanted to share this article I found online. I hope it helps and as always, question's and comments can be directed here or on my facebook account Garret Belisle.

Take care.

The ailment of Diabetes is not something to be taken lightly. Moreover, the number of diabetes and pre-diabetes inflicted people in the United States of America has grown alarmingly over the past few years. Believe it or not, the data provided by the American Diabetes Association tells us that over 23 million people suffer from this disease in the United States of America alone. Frighteningly, not taking enough measures initially might lead to severe complications later.

Can diabetes cause memory loss? Well, if you do not take precautions right away the disease might progress to hamper your power of remembering things as well as well as other problems related to cognition. However, these complications might only be the beginning.

Now that we have answered the question 'can diabetes cause memory loss?' we can't escape the fact that it is indeed a distressing situation for anyone to be facing. Occasional lapses in remembering names and faces are expected with advanced age, but if relative youngsters struggle to remember facts, then it is surely time for some very strong action.

Keep the following instructions in mind while you are fighting against this -

* Make sure you are eating a lot of fresh fruits, vegetables, low fat dairy products, legumes and lean meat.
* Foodstuffs rich in magnesium, zinc, chromium etc should ideally form a large part of your diet.
* Exercise regularly.

All the above measures will ensure that your brain receives adequate blood flow and doesn't trip up often.

Diabetes not only causes memory loss but also raises the patient's blood pressure significantly. Increased pressure on the blood vessels might also, in severe conditions, lead to strokes. And strokes, in turn might lead to the strange lapses in memory.

In extreme cases, diabetes can lead to disorders of the peripheral nervous system as well as malfunctioning of the heart. Both these conditions affect the blood circulation. And naturally, with the blood supply to the brain getting hindered, memory loss follows.

The best way to control erratic levels of blood pressure is by maintaining a distinctly healthy lifestyle. If you are overweight, it is definitely time to lose those few extra kilos. And even if you are not, make it a habit to work out regularly. Avoid taking sodium as much as you can. And most importantly, please do not skip any medication that the doctor prescribes. Your regular and healthy lifestyle might prove to be an alternative to medicines one day.

Do keep an eye on your blood sugar levels. High levels of sugar in the blood leads to heart ailments. Which again lead to memory loss as we discussed earlier. Thus the question of 'can diabetes cause memory loss' is surely answered. Make up your mind and do not slip up on your prescribed diet. Remember, it is probably what is keeping you alive!

However, prevention is almost always better than cure. Therefore, always be on the lookout for symptoms. And make regular appointments with your doctor and ophthalmologist. Ask questions. Read up on the ailment. Remember, the earlier you catch it, the better your chances of being completely cured.

Find out What Causes Memory Loss and learn how to cure it. The Causes Of Memory Loss can be stopped before you completely lose your ability to remember.

For more articles please visit http://make-diabetes-history.blogspot.com/

Article Source:EzineArticles.com expert Matt Argyle