In the 'Symptoms - Glandular' section of our in-depth questionnaire we ask the following question about duration of reasonably-controlled diabetes:
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For approximately how long have your fasting blood-sugar levels remained generally moderately elevated? This would be in the 120-180mg range.
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Your answer |
...indicates |
...and suggests |
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"Not applicable / never / don't know" |
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"Under 4 years" |
Reasonably controlled diabetes |
A risk factor |
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"4 to 6 years" |
Reasonably controlled diabetes |
A risk factor |
| 4. |
"7 to 9 years" |
Reasonably controlled diabetes |
A risk factor |
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"Over 9 years" |
Reasonably controlled diabetes |
A risk factor |
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Your answer will affect the likelihoods of the conditions below.
Any answers in green reduce the likelihood of the condition.
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| Answers |
Condition |
Comment |
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Alzheimer's Disease |
According to a study in Neurology, diabetes mellitus may not only damage the function of the eyes, limbs, kidneys, and heart - it may also impair the function of the brain and hasten the process of senile dementia.
Researchers have found that diabetes mellitus nearly doubles the risk of developing both vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease, according to a Rotterdam Study that tracked dysglycemia and dementia in over 6,000 individuals over age 55. Diagnosis of diabetes was based on World Health Organization criteria using a glucose tolerance test.
A related editorial called Alzheimer's a possible "brain-type diabetes." Besides damaging important blood vessel networks and increasing the risk of small "silent" strokes deep inside the brain, dysglycemia may be directly involved in the development of the neurofibrillary tangles, the clumping of nerves and fiber tissue inside the brain characteristic of Alzheimer's.
The researchers noted that advanced glycation endproducts (AGE), proteins damaged by chronically high blood sugar levels, are commonly found inside these tangles. "In brains of AD patients the receptor for AGE appears overexpressed," they noted. "Activation of this receptor leads to increased oxidative stress that may result in cellular damage."
Diabetes also disrupts insulin-signaling to other cells in the body. This altered signaling may increase the activity of a neuronal enzyme that stimulates phosphorylated tau proteins to build up, a key trigger mechanism cited as one of the earliest signs of Alzheimer's.
NOTE: This study strongly suggests the important potential role of glycation products and insulin response, not just glucose levels, as being causes of degenerative disease. |
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Atherosclerosis |
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Cataracts |
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Chronic Renal Insufficiency |
Diabetes mellitus is a major cause of chronic renal failure. In Singapore, statistics have shown that out of the 500 newly diagnosed kidney failure patients each year, 50% were caused by diabetes and 9% were caused by hypertension. When sugar levels rise enough to spill into the urine, as in diabetes, blood vessels in the kidneys are damaged. This condition is known as diabetic nephropathy. Symptoms related to kidney failure usually occur only in late stages of the disease, when kidney function has diminished to less than 25% of normal capacity. For many years before that point, kidney disease of diabetes exists as a silent process. |
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Gallbladder Disease |
Gallstones may progress more rapidly in patients with diabetes, who tend to suffer worse infections. |
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Retinopathy |
Uncontrolled diabetes can cause retinopathy, a progressive disease that can lead to complete blindness. The most effective course of prevention and treatment is to control the underlying disease. If you have diabetes, see your ophthalmologist annually and maintain good control of your blood sugar. |
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Senile Dementia |
Hypertension, diabetes and heart disease are risk factors for reduced circulation in the brain, sometimes called ischemic vascular dementia (IVD). |
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GLOSSARY
Alzheimer's Disease (Alzheimer's)
A progressive disease of the middle-aged and elderly, characterized by loss of function and death of nerve cells in several areas of the brain, leading to loss of mental functions such as memory and learning. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia.
Chronic Renal Failure (Chronic Renal Insufficiency, Kidney Failure, Renal Insufficiency)
(CRF) Irreversible, progressive impaired kidney function. The early stage, when the kidneys no longer function properly but do not yet require dialysis, is known as Chronic Renal Insufficiency (CRI). CRI can be difficult to diagnose, as symptoms are not usually apparent until kidney disease has progressed significantly. Common symptoms include a frequent need to urinate and swelling, as well as possible anemia, fatigue, weakness, headaches and loss of appetite. As the disease progresses, other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, bad breath and itchy skin may develop as toxic metabolites, normally filtered out of the blood by the kidneys, build up to harmful levels. Over time (up to 10 or 20 years), CRF generally progresses from CRI to End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD, also known as Kidney Failure). Patients with ESRD no longer have kidney function adequate to sustain life and require dialysis or kidney transplantation. Without proper treatment, ESRD is fatal.
Dementia (Senile Dementia)
An acquired progressive impairment of intellectual function. Marked compromise exists in at least three of the following mental activity spheres: memory, language, personality, visuospatial skills, and cognition (i.e. abstraction and calculation).
Diabetes Mellitus (Diabetes, Diabetic, Diabetics)
A disease with increased blood glucose levels due to lack or ineffectiveness of insulin. Diabetes is found in two forms; insulin-dependent diabetes (juvenile-onset) and non-insulin-dependent (adult-onset). Symptoms include increased thirst; increased urination; weight loss in spite of increased appetite; fatigue; nausea; vomiting; frequent infections including bladder, vaginal, and skin; blurred vision; impotence in men; bad breath; cessation of menses; diminished skin fullness. Other symptoms include bleeding gums; ear noise/buzzing; diarrhea; depression; confusion.
Enzymes (Enzyme)
Specific protein catalysts produced by the cells that are crucial in chemical reactions and in building up or synthesizing most compounds in the body. Each enzyme performs a specific function without itself being consumed. For example, the digestive enzyme amylase acts on carbohydrates in foods to break them down.
Gallstone (Biliary Calculus, Gall Stone, Gall Stones, Gallbladder Attack, Gallbladder Attacks, Gallstones)
Stone-like objects in either the gallbladder or bile ducts, composed mainly of cholesterol and occasionally mixed with calcium. Most gallstones do not cause problems until they become larger or they begin obstructing bile ducts, at which point gallbladder "attacks" begin to occur. Symptoms usually occur after a fatty meal and at night. The following are the most common ones: steady, severe pain in the middle-upper abdomen or below the ribs on the right; pain in the back between the shoulder blades; pain under the right shoulder; nausea; vomiting; fever; chills; jaundice; abdominal bloating; intolerance of fatty foods; belching or gas; indigestion.
Glucose
A sugar that is the simplest form of carbohydrate. It is commonly referred to as blood sugar. The body breaks down carbohydrates in foods into glucose, which serves as the primary fuel for the muscles and the brain.
Glycosylation (Glycation)
An enzymatic process by which sugars are attached to proteins. Although the term "non-enzymatic glycosylation" is common, "glycation" is the word that is used to describe the non-enzymatic attachment of sugars to proteins. Glycosylation is reversible, wheras glycation is either irreversible, or leads to Advanced Glycation End-products (AGEs). This protein cross-linking is characteristic of long-life proteins and is notable in the eye and in collagen. It is likened to "rusting" of tissue and contributes to the aging process.
Hypertension
High blood pressure. Hypertension increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure because it adds to the workload of the heart, causing it to enlarge and, over time, to weaken; in addition, it may damage the walls of the arteries.
Insulin
A hormone secreted by the pancreas in response to elevated blood glucose levels. Insulin stimulates the liver, muscles, and fat cells to remove glucose from the blood for use or storage.
Ischemia (Ischemic)
Localized tissue anemia due to obstruction of the inflow of arterial blood. A decrease in the blood supply to a bodily organ, tissue, or part caused by constriction or obstruction of the blood vessels.
Kidneys (Kidney, Renal)
Bean-shaped organs, each about the size of a fist. They are located near the middle of the back, just below the rib cage. The kidneys are sophisticated reprocessing machines, each day handling about 50 gallons of blood to sift out about half a gallon of waste products and extra water. The waste and extra water become urine, which flows to the bladder through tubes called ureters. The actual filtering occurs in tiny units inside the kidneys called nephrons. Every kidney has about a million nephrons. In a nephron, a glomerulus -- which is a tiny blood vessel, or capillary -- intertwines with a tiny urine-collecting tube called a tubule. A complicated chemical exchange takes place, as waste materials and water leave your blood and enter your urinary system. The kidneys recycle chemicals such as sodium, phosphorus, and potassium and thus regulate their levels. Renal: Pertaining to the kidneys.
Milligram (mg, Milligrams)
0.001 or a thousandth of a gram.
Protein (Proteins)
Compounds composed of hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen present in the body and in foods that form complex combinations of amino acids. Protein is essential for life and is used for growth and repair. Foods that supply the body with protein include animal products, grains, legumes, and vegetables. Proteins from animal sources contain the essential amino acids. Proteins are changed to amino acids in the body.
Retinopathy
An eye disorder that does not cause inflammation but results from changes in the eye (retinal) blood vessels.
Vascular Dementia
Mental incapacity due to inadequate blood flow to the brain.
Last updated: Feb 28, 2008
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