• Question: Does the brain affect diabetes?

    Asked by bigpackage to Fiona, Jane, Joanna, Michelle, William on 19 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Michelle Murphy

      Michelle Murphy answered on 16 Jun 2010:

      not majorly the main problem comes from the pancreas itself. The brain can control the pancreas a little bit. It is a bit like the computer (brain) puts pictures on the screen (pancreas) but it cant do that if the screen itself is broken.

    • Photo: Joanna Brooks

      Joanna Brooks answered on 16 Jun 2010:

      Well, we know that diabetes can affect the brain. The brain is thought to use glucose to make memories and to store memories, but diabetes interfers with glucose signals.

    • Photo: Fiona Randall

      Fiona Randall answered on 18 Jun 2010:

      When diabetics have low blood sugar (known as hypoglycaemic) they have problems with brain functions like memory.

    • Photo: William Davies

      William Davies answered on 19 Jun 2010:

      One of the major roles of the brain is to ensure ‘homeostasis’ (i.e. to keep the body at a constant temperature, surrounded by a constant mix of chemicals etc.). To do this, it is responsible for monitoring levels of things like blood sugar and salts, and regulating the release of hormones to control these. Although the hormone insulin (which regulates blood glucose) is released by the pancreas, its levels are controlled by the brain

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