Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 24, 2026

Hippocampal Insulin Microinjection and In vivo Microdialysis During Spatial Memory Testing
10:32

Hippocampal Insulin Microinjection and In vivo Microdialysis During Spatial Memory Testing

Published on: January 11, 2013

A prospective study of severe hypoglycemia and long-term spatial memory in children with type 1 diabetes

Tamara Hershey1, Rema Lillie, Michelle Sadler

  • 1Department of Psychiatry and Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. tammy@npg.wustl.edu

Pediatric Diabetes
|June 11, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Severe hypoglycemia (SH) in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) prospectively linked to worse long-term spatial memory. This confirms SH negatively impacts T1DM children's memory skills.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Neuropsychology
  • Diabetes Mellitus Research

Background:

  • Previous studies suggested a link between severe hypoglycemia (SH) and cognitive deficits in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).
  • Spatial memory is a critical cognitive function potentially affected by glycemic excursions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To prospectively investigate the association between severe hypoglycemia (SH) and long-term spatial memory in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).
  • To determine if SH specifically impacts spatial memory compared to other cognitive domains.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective cohort study involving children with T1DM (n=42) and sibling controls (n=25).
  • Participants completed spatial delayed response (SDR) tasks (short and long delays) and other neuropsychological tests at baseline and after 15 months.
  • Prospective recording of extreme glycemic events, including SH, and medical complications during follow-up.

Main Results:

  • Children with T1DM who experienced SH during the follow-up period showed statistically significant decreases in long-delay SDR performance.
  • The association between SH and reduced spatial memory remained significant after controlling for baseline performance, age, gender, and age of onset.
  • No significant association was found between SH and performance on short-delay SDR, verbal memory, object memory, attention, or motor speed.

Conclusions:

  • Prospective evidence supports the hypothesis that severe hypoglycemia has specific, detrimental effects on long-term spatial memory in children with T1DM.
  • These findings underscore the importance of preventing SH to preserve cognitive function in pediatric diabetes management.

More Related Videos

Osmotic Minipump Implantation for Increasing Glucose Concentration in Mouse Cerebrospinal Fluid06:21

Osmotic Minipump Implantation for Increasing Glucose Concentration in Mouse Cerebrospinal Fluid

Published on: April 7, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Hypoglycemia01:26

Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia is a blood glucose level below 70 mg/dL. It commonly occurs in individuals using insulin or insulin-secreting drugs, but may also arise in non-diabetic conditions. People with type 1 diabetes are at the highest risk because they depend on exogenous insulin. People with type 2 diabetes are also at risk, especially when treated with insulin or medications such as sulfonylureas, which increase insulin release regardless of blood glucose levels. It develops when insulin levels exceed...
Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype01:22

Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by high blood glucose levels due to inadequate insulin production, insulin resistance, or both. The condition affects millions worldwide and can significantly impact their health and quality of life.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin, and individuals with...
Type I Diabetes I: Introduction01:12

Type I Diabetes I: Introduction

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by an absolute deficiency of insulin resulting from the autoimmune destruction of pancreatic β-cells. Although it can occur at any age, it is most commonly diagnosed in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood. The loss of insulin production impairs cellular glucose uptake, resulting in persistent hyperglycemia and necessitating lifelong insulin therapy.Autoimmune Destruction of β-CellsThe hallmark of type 1 diabetes is an...
Hypoglycemia and Glucagon01:15

Hypoglycemia and Glucagon

Without prolonged fasting, healthy individuals maintain blood glucose levels above 3.5 mM due to a well-adapted neuroendocrine counterregulatory system that effectively prevents acute hypoglycemia, a potentially life-threatening condition. The primary clinical scenarios for hypoglycemia encompass diabetes treatment, inappropriate production of endogenous insulin or insulin-like substances by tumors, and the use of glucose-lowering agents in non-diabetic individuals. Notably, hypoglycemia in the...
Type I Diabetes III: Clinical Manifestations01:19

Type I Diabetes III: Clinical Manifestations

Type 1 diabetes mellitus typically presents with rapid-onset symptoms due to the body’s inability to utilize glucose in the absence of insulin. Since insulin is required for glucose uptake into cells, its deficiency leads to hyperglycemia and cellular energy deprivation, resulting in characteristic clinical features.Polyuria and PolydipsiaOne of the earliest, most prominent symptoms is polyuria (excessive urination). When blood glucose concentrations rise above the renal threshold, the kidneys...
Type II Diabetes II: Pathophysiology01:24

Type II Diabetes II: Pathophysiology

PathophysiologyType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM ) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance and progressive pancreatic β-cell dysfunction, leading to impaired glucose homeostasis. It results from interactions among genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and metabolic stressors, such as overnutrition and a sedentary lifestyle.Insulin Resistance and Glucose DysregulationEarly T2DM involves insulin resistance in skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, and the liver.