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The Importance of Blood Sugar Management

If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, you know that hypoglycemia is something to be wary of. In fact, hypoglycemia is something that you have to constantly deal with. A new study links reduced cognitive function with severe hypoglycemia.

The study, published in Diabetes Care, surveyed 1,066 individuals with type 2 diabetes between the ages of 60 and 75. Those contacted were asked to return four years later. The researchers looked at the history of hypoglycemia in these individuals and performed cognitive tests to see if there were any links. What researchers found indicates that those with frequent and severe hypoglycemic episodes performed poorer on the cognitive tests for verbal, nonverbal, processing and working memory skills.

As our population gets older and more and more individuals are diagnosed with cognitive impairment, cognitive decline and dementia, this information becomes more important. We know the importance of a good diet and exercise, which can help reduce the chance of type 2 diabetes. Leading a healthy lifestyle might not only improve your physical health but also your mental health as well, particularly in later years.

Researchers concluded that hypoglycemia has a connection to “steeper decline in cognitive function” and that hypoglycemia “is a risk factor for cognitive decline.” Researchers also pointed out that those with poor cognitive ability may not be able to recognize signs of hypoglycemia and have a harder time managing their diabetes. The study concludes, however, that the link between cognitive decline and hypoglycemia may be casual, but living a healthy lifestyle can always be beneficial. Not only may it benefit your cognitive development later in life, but it will allow you to be more active and healthier for all the other stages in your life.

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Drinking Problems: Why Juice Isn’t Always Better

We’ve known for a while that sodas should be regarded as a treat and not as your usual drink. Reaching for a glass of water versus a can of soda has far better health implications. However, many people have started drinking juice instead of soda, and while that may sound like a good choice, a new study from the University of Glasgow in the UK warns that juice may not be a good choice after all.

When we think about juice, we think about natural ingredients and potentially even health benefits; after all, juice contains vitamins and some juices claim to count toward your daily recommended portions of fruits and vegetables. This perception comes from the convenient labels on the front of juice containers that claim their nutritional value. However, many times juices fail to disclose how much sugar they contain.

In fact, the study from University of Glasgow found that individuals who drank 500 ml of grape juice every day for three months saw an increase in insulin resistance and waist circumference in individuals who were already classified as overweight. And even though fruit juice has more nutritional value than a soda, researchers were quick to point out that fruit or vegetable juice lack the “beneficial substances” found in the actual fruit or vegetables, like fiber. Dr. Gill, a member of the study, said “that drinking fruit juice is not significantly different than drinking other sugar drinks.”

So if you’re interested in the healthy choice, grab a glass fo water and have an apple along with it. Typically, an apple only has 50 calories, compared to 105 calored in 250 ml of soda or 110 calories in 250 ml of apple juice.