The sensation known as “brain fog” is growing increasingly common among children and adults alike. Typically described as a fuzzy or disoriented sensation, brain fog has been attributed to causes as varied as ADHD and poor diet to neurological disorders and parasites. Diabetes has also been known to rear its head and cause ongoing sessions of difficulty concentrating.

The Diabetes-Mind Connection

As anyone with prolonged high blood glucose can attest, diabetes can adversely affect all of the body’s systems. While the focus typically centers on the gut and nervous systems, perpetually high blood sugar can actually begin to damage the blood vessels in the brain, leading to impaired cognitive function.

The human brain relies heavily upon unimpeded blood flow to function and perform tasks, both simple and complex. When a particular region of the brain is being used, there is increased blood flow to the area, which allows your body to move and carry out tasks. If blood cannot flow freely and quickly, even a simple task such as washing dishes can prove difficult or impossible.

Diabetes and Brain Fog

While the worst-case scenario involves dementia and memory loss due to unregulated blood sugar, diabetes patients are not doomed to experience such drastic loss of cognitive function. If, however, you have noticed an increase in your mind’s tendency to grow foggy or unfocused, you may need to contact your doctor.

Prolonged high blood glucose (and corresponding fog) can lead to memory loss as time goes on. Memory loss will not always carry over into dementia and Alzheimer’s, but the inability to keep healthy and stable sugar levels will greatly impede your brain’s ability to concentrate. Keeping brain fog at bay through successful blood sugar management will lend a hand in keeping more advanced stages of memory loss and cognitive failure at bay.

When to Call a Doctor

Ideally, you can keep your own sugars under control and avoid any sort of struggle with concentration or focus. For many people with diabetes, however, managing sugar is a constant struggle. If you have perpetually high numbers and have noticed any struggles with concentration, cognitive function, or memory, it may be time to give your doctor a call. Breathing new life into damaged nerves and blood vessels isn’t an exact science yet, but your doctor may be able to tweak your medication or nutrition plan to keep your diabetes under control.

Any time you find yourself experiencing a hard time completing a task that was once simple or easy, it may be cause for concern. Make sure you take your concerns to your doctor and kick brain fog to the curb.