Yes, it can and here is how.

The most frequent cognitive deficits in persons with diabetes are:

o Slowing of information processing speed

o Slowing of motor speed

o Decreases in vocabulary and intelligence

o Lessening of attention span

o Decreases in motor strength

o Loss of memory

The single most important factor is glycemic or sugar control. Both too low (hypoglycemia) and too high (hyperglycemia) blood glucose can affect cognitive function. All of these above items improve with better glucose control.

Complications such as neuropathy (loss of feeling), retinopathy (loss of eye sight), and nephropathy (loss of kidney function) may take years to occur with diabetes. Cognitive deficits can occur much earlier (especially when your hemoglobin A1C is higher than 8.4%).

In elderly diabetic persons, this is especially true, with more than 10% showing at least some cognitive deficit due at least in part to poor blood sugar control.

Okay, so what can you do to keep your brain sharp? In other words, how do you keep all your marbles?
You keep your blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible. In keeping a tight control over your blood glucose you will sharpen your brain and prevent any further deterioration.

There are three main ways of doing this.

o The first is to control your diet by counting your carbohydrates. Your health care professional can tell you how many carbohydrates that you should eat.

o The second method is to exercise. Exercise has been proven over and over again to lower blood glucose (and it makes you feel better). Exercise can lower your blood glucose for hours to days (after your exercise is complete). Make sure to check your blood glucose both before and after you exercise. You want it to remain within a normal level. Your health care provider can tell you what normal levels are for you. Never start an exercise routine without checking with your health care provider.

o The third method is medications. Not all diabetics take medications but if you do, make sure you take them properly.