Fluctuations in blood sugar levels affect brain function in people with type 1 diabetes. The research was published in the journal npj Digital Medicine.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that affects glucose metabolism. Previous studies have shown that very low or high glucose levels impair cognitive functions. However, these were done in a laboratory environment that is very different from real life.
The new study included 200 people with type 1 diabetes. Glucose levels were measured using digital sensors and cognitive speeds were measured using tests on smartphones. Glucose data were collected every five minutes and brain function data were collected three times a day. The experiment lasted half a month, and during this time the participants led normal lives.
Cognition was slower when glucose levels were significantly higher or lower than normal. Some people were more positive about it. Glucose levels did not affect the ability to focus attention.
“We found that minimizing glucose fluctuations in daily life is important for optimizing processing speed, and this is especially true for people who are elderly or have complicated diabetes,” the authors said.
Previous scientists I learnedLack of carbohydrates can impair a child’s attention span.