“I haven’t failed, I’ve just found 10,000 ways that don’t work.” Thomas Edison’s determined optimism shows the importance of keeping an eye on goal in the face of delays. That willpower brought us the electric light bulb and if you have type 2 diabetes (or prediabetes) this can help you avoid dementia.
A new study published in JAMA found that dementia is a major complication of diabetes. If you are 70 years old and have had type 2 diabetes for more than a decade, you have doubled your risk of dementia compared to people aged 70. And, say the researchers, every five years earlier than you were diagnosed with diabetes – around 55 instead of 60 – there is a 24% higher risk of developing dementia.
Now we know that controlling – even banishing – diabetes can be daunting. There are 10,000 ways to settle down, eat sugary snacks with saturated fat, add metabolically harmful inflammation, and darken your future. But there is a way to make sure that your inner light doesn’t fade.
If you have diabetes, it is time to say, “I have not failed.” Introduce a plant-based diet; Eliminate red and processed meat, ultra-processed foods, and added sugars; If you get 300 minutes of aerobics and strength building twice a week, you can protect your brain as well as every other organ in your body.
So talk to your doctor about nutritional counseling, exercise, and cognitive behavioral therapy to get past your “pathways that don’t work”. A good idea!
Mehmet Oz, MD, is the host of the “Dr. Oz Show, ”and Mike Roizen, MD, is the chief wellness officer emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic. To live the healthiest life, turn on “The Dr. Oz Show ”or visit www.sharecare.com.
