(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Children who suffer a common complication of
diabetes may be prone to persistent memory problems, new research shows.
Kids who develop diabetic ketoacidosis, a complication of diabetes that occurs
when the body is low in insulin and burns fat for energy instead of sugar, may
experience nausea, vomiting and fatigue, but also a mental fog. If left
untreated, ketoacidosis can lead to coma.
Now, a new study shows children who've had the condition in the past score worse
on memory tests than children with diabetes who’ve never had ketoacidosis. The
research involved 33 children with type 1 diabetes who have also had diabetic
ketoacidosis, and 29 children with diabetes and no history of the condition.
"These results underscore the importance of maintaining control of known
diabetes and prompt diagnosis of new cases should diabetic ketoacidosis symptoms
arise," Simona Ghetti, Ph.D., an associate professor at the University of
California Davis Department of Psychology and the Center for Mind and Brain, in
Davis, Calif., was quoted as saying.
Diabetic ketoacidosis can be prevented with proper glucose control in known
diabetics, but Dr. Ghetti says it often occurs at the same time a diabetes
diagnosis is made.
Source: Journal of Pediatrics, published online October 15, 2009
