Tight blood sugar control no help against diabetes-related dementia

(CBS) People with diabetes are known to be at increased risk for dementia, and scientists were hopeful that a full-fledged assault on blood sugar might stave off diabetes-related mental decline. But no such luck.

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New research suggests "intensive" blood glucose control won't do anything to stop the cognitive decline that accompanies diabetes.

"We know that people with type 2 diabetes have a much higher risk of dementia and memory loss than people without diabetes," study co-author Dr. Jeff D. Williamson, chief of geriatrics and gerontology at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C., said in a written statement. "Does the added cost and effort to control blood sugar result in a slowed rate of memory loss? After conducting this study, there remains no evidence that it does."

For the study - published in the September 27 issue of The Lancet - researchers recruited 3,000 diabetics between the ages of 55 and 80, and assigned them to either an "intensive" program aimed at lowering their gluclose (A1c) levels below 6 percentor a "standard" program that attempted to keep glucose levels between 7 and 7.9 percent.

People without diabetes typically have blood glucose levels between 4 and 6 percent, according to WebMD.

After 40 months, researchers tested the participant's cognitive functionand saw no difference in decline between the groups. The study did find, however, that intensive blood sugar control prevented brain shrinkage. "What that means for the long term preservation of cognitive function of these patients, we're still trying to figure out," Williamson said in the statement.

So what should diabetics do in light of the rather depressing new study?

"Patients should follow standard therapy, because there is no additional benefit to following a more intensive strategy," lead study author Dr. Lenore J. Launder, chief of neuroepidemiology for the National Institute on Aging, told HealthDay. Diabetics shouldn't spend all their money, time, and energy trying to drive their blood sugars down below "standard" goals, the authors said, but should focus their attention on trying to improve their overall health by eating right and exercising.

More than 25 million Americans have diabetes. Earlier this month, a study in Neurology found diabetics were twice as likely as non-diabetics to develop dementia, CBS News reported.

The Alzheimer's Association has more on Alzheimer's and type 2 diabetes.

[steweeme]

'Hello': 'Once-Again', not one mention of ...'ADDICTIVE-CAFFEINES' Part in, Diabetes/Dementia-Problems! (I wonder why?) I'll tell you
WHY'! Because if the, 'PSYCHO-PSYCHIATRISTS' 'E-V-E-R = A-D-D-R-E-S-S-E-D" 'ABSOLUTE-CAFFEINE-ADDICTION', Biabetes and Dementia would basically ...'GO-AWAY'! You see, 'EVERY-TIME' you do CAFFEINE(Colas, Coffee, Chocolate, etc.!), You are 'BOMBARDING-YOUR-MIND' w/'Addicctive-Stimulating-Caffeine'!(METHedrien, Nicotine, Amphetimines, Histimines, Benzodrine, W/All-The-Same-Charteristics, requiring ...'MAINTENANCE'! 'Alas': 'PSYCHO-PSYCHIATRISTS'!) You see, 'EVER-TIME' you do CAFFEINE, it has 'OVER-WORKED' the Pancreas; releasing Insulin 'UN-NESSISARILY'! For when you do 'NEED-INSULIN', helping to 'Break-Down' your Blood-Sugar-Level, 'THERE-IS-NONE'! 'Their' ...'LYING-TO-YOU'! The 'PSYCHO-PSYCHIATRISTS' will ...'N-E-V-E-R = A-D-D-R-E-S-S = C-A-F-F-E-I-N-E'! *Please-Visit* my Web-Site: www.AddictedMAN.com and 'See-Me' on, YouTube: AddictedMAN w/Steweeme / 'Thanks' for Listening, and 'Good-Luck' with Your 'CAFFEINE-POISONING': Steweeme

[Dye_Diet]

I agree but not only caffeine. What about so many food additive chemicals we eat EVERY day? In my recent article at DyeDiet I reviewed red velvet cake of Walmart: 37% of High Fructose Corn Syrup, 33% of other nutrients and 30% is totally NON-notritious crap alondg with the infamous Red 40 azo-dye! Cancers, ADHD, allergies, autism etc.. all are on the rise. I hope DyeDiet resource helps Americans to deviate from any chemical addiction.

[wallmartcom]

chromium vitamin for diabetes, the primary clinical strategy to improve metabolic control in patients with Type 2 diabetes consists of lifestyle modification combined with pharmacologic intervention. However, alternative strategies, e.g. nutritional supplementation with over-the-counter agents, are extensively practiced by a large number of patients and are frequently undertaken without first informing the medical provider. www.1wallmart.com/product.php?id_product=321 Unfortunately, considerable controversy exists regarding use of dietary supplements in subjects with diabetes because efficacy data for many of the supplements consists of only uncontrolled studies and anecdotal reports. As such, there is a paucity of data in humans in regard to the effect of most commercially available supplements to improve metabolic abnormalities. One supplement that has attracted considerable clinical interest is chromium (Cr). However, routine use of Cr in subjects with diabetes is not currently recommended. In part, the controversy surrounding Cr supplementation stems from the lack of definitive randomized trials, the lack of "gold standard" techniques to assess glucose metabolism in the studies reported, the use of differing doses and formulation , and the study of heterogeneous study populations. As such, conflicting data has been reported that has contributed greatly to the confusion among healthcare providers concerning Cr supplementation. In order to provide a comprehensive clinical evaluation of Cr, we conducted a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial in subjects with Type 2 diabetes. Individuals had baseline measures consisting of oral glucose tolerance testing, body fat and adiposity assessed, and then used established techniques to assess insulin sensitivity with hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps. Individuals were evaluated for 6 months at which time repeat testing was done.