Caring for Patients With Diabetes in Stroke Neurology

Abstract

Diabetes is a heterogeneous disease that affects 9% of the world’s population (11% in the United States). The consequences of diabetes for the brain are severe; it nearly doubles a person’s risk of stroke and is a major contributor to risk for cerebral small vessel disease and dementia. These effects on the brain are in addition to peripheral neuropathy, retinopathy, nephropathy, and coronary heart disease. In this article, we explain the treatments that can prevent or mitigate its harmful effects and propose a role for neurologists and other neurology clinicians in managing patients during routine care.