Print | Email | Share | Comments (0)

Ask Dr. Young

Sep 1, 1991

Can diabetes cause absent-mindedness?

Dr. Young: Repeated hypo-glycemia may lead to brain damage which can manifest itself as absent-mindedness or any other neurologic deficit. However, one must have repeated low blood sugars that are long-lasting. As a general rule, mild low blood sugar reactions, which you recognize and are able to take care of promptly, will not lead to any damage.

Are there any alternative methods for diabetes treatment, such as acupuncture?

Dr. Young: Unfortunately there is no cure for Type I diabetes. While we are all frustrated by this, I do not think it should lead us to seek unproven and untested therapies elsewhere. Traditional medicine is quite scientific in its approach to new therapies. These are tested in a controlled situation and monitored by other scientists.

Why are some people with diabetes unable to tolerate heat and humidity?

Dr. Young: If your diabetes is not well controlled, this can lead to dehydration and make heat and humidity much less tolerable. In addition, if you have had long-standing diabetes, your autonomic nervous system can be affected, and this can interfere with your body's ability to regulate its temperature, thereby leaving you much less able to keep cool in hot weather.

Is it true that a low protein diet has beneficial qualities?

Dr. Young: In the past few years, evidence has been accumulating that high protein diets may be harmful to the kidney. While long-term tests of this hypothesis are lacking, short-term experimental results do suggest that lower protein diets, approximately 25 percent less than what is usually recommended, are more beneficial in sparing kidney function. Since low protein diets also tend to be low fat diets because fat and protein tend to go together, I do recommend a low protein, low fat, high complex carbohydrate diet for my patients. its temperature, thereby leaving you much less able to keep cool in hot weather.

All material in this section is provided for general information only, and may not be construed as medical advice or instruction. To diagnose specific illnesses and disorders, consult appropriate health professionals.

Categories: Blood Sugar, Diabetes, Diets, General

Comments

Add your comments about this article below. You can add comments as a registered user or anonymously. If you choose to post anonymously your comments will be sent to our moderator for approval before they appear on this page. If you choose to post as a registered user your comments will appear instantly.

When voicing your views via the comment feature, please respect the Diabetes Health community by refraining from comments that could be considered offensive to other people. Diabetes Health reserves the right to remove comments when necessary to maintain the cordial voice of the diabetes community.

For your privacy and protection, we ask that you do not include personal details such as address or telephone number in any comments posted.

Don't have your Diabetes Health Username? Register now and add your comments to all our content.

Have Your Say...

Registered User Anonymous

Your Name:	Your Email:	X

Recipient's Name:	Recipient's Email:

Your Chosen Username:	Your Email Address:

Chosen Password:	Confirm Password:

Email to a Friend

Ask Dr. Young

You May Also Be Interested In...

Comments

Register...

Have Your Say...

Diabetes Health

Topics

Topics

Topics

Diabetes Health Medical Disclaimer

Comment: