The impact of diabetes on brain development
The brain requires glucose (sugar) to function normally. If glucose levels in the brain are too high or low, skills such as attention, memory, processing speed and problem solving can be affected.
Children with type1 diabetes commonly experience times of abnormally low (hypoglycaemia) and abnormally high (hyperglycaemia) blood glucose levels, even if their overall condition is stable.
A/Professor Elisabeth Northam and her team found evidence that developing diabetes at a very young age and frequent episodes of hypoglycaemia or chronic hyperglycaemia could explain the mild problems in attention, concentration, perception and problem solving found in some children with type 1 diabetes.
The findings have provided new knowledge about the impact of diabetes on children's brain development and function.