Health Fusion: All about diabetes. Experts discuss the connection to obesity and dementia, islet transplantation and how to reduce risk

Diabetes is a common disease in the United States, affecting how your body controls your blood sugar following the intake of food and during breaks between meals. In a healthy control, when the blood sugar rises, the pancreas releases insulin to help control this rise and bring it back to its standard level. In an individual with diabetes, this feedback regulation mechanism is malfunctioning, preventing the body from properly controlling blood sugar. This absence of control over a long period of time can lead to severe complications including heart disease, kidney disease, and eye problems. 

In this article and interview video, Melena Bellin, MD, Associate Professor in the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology at the University of Minnesota, explains both types of diabetes, current treatments, and new approaches to help mitigate the effects of the disease in day to day life. Additionally, they touch on the potential connection between obesity and dementia along with overall risk reduction and what you can do now to prevent long-term issues. To read the full article and view the video, follow this link.