The human brain contains a large amount of cholesterol which the brain produces it’s self. The cholesterol play a critical role, if the brain does not have enough cholesterol it does not function properly.
"People with diabetes can have a lot of problems with brain function, especially if it is uncontrolled," said C. Ronald Kahn of Harvard's Joslin Diabetes Center. "The assumption had been that this was related to the effects of poor glucose control. Our findings suggest a completely new concept."
“The study showed that the insulin-deficient mice showed a reduction in a gene, called SREBP-2, which is a master controller of cholesterol metabolism. That change reduced the production of cholesterol in the brain and lowered the amount of cholesterol in cell membranes that are important for the communications from one neuron to the next.” These cells have a rapid turnover rate. This process occurs overtime and when insulin - resistance occurs it can decrease the amount of cholesterol in the brain and cause more problems for the diabetic.
Diabetics who have control over their diabetes are less likely to have problems related to the lack of cholesterol in the brain, as it should produce the same amount or only slightly less.
Sources: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/209764.php
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