Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Osmotic Minipump Implantation for Increasing Glucose Concentration in Mouse Cerebrospinal Fluid
Published on: April 7, 2023
The effects of type 1 diabetes on cerebral white matter
K Weinger1, A M Jacobson, G Musen
1Behavioral and Mental Health Research Joslin Diabetes Center, One Joslin Place Suite 350, Boston, MA 02459, USA. katie.weinger@joslin.harvard.edu
Aim/Hypothesis:
Studies investigating the structure, neurophysiology and functional outcomes of white matter among type 1 diabetes patients have given conflicting results. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between type 1 diabetes and white matter hyperintensities.
Method:
We assessed white matter integrity (using magnetic resonance imaging), depressive symptoms and neuropsychological function in 114 type 1 diabetes patients and 58 age-matched non-diabetic controls.
Results:
Only Fazekas grade 1 and 2 white matter hyperintensities were found among 114 long-duration, relatively young diabetes patients; the severity of lesions did not differ substantially from 58 healthy controls. White matter hyperintensities were not associated with depressive history or with clinical characteristics of diabetes, including retinopathy, severe hypoglycaemia or glycaemia control.
Conclusions/Interpretation:
Our data do not support an association between diabetes characteristics and white matter hyperintensities among relatively young type 1 diabetes participants.
Related Concept Videos
Type I Diabetes I: Introduction
Type I Diabetes II: Pathophysiology
Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype
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 III: Clinical Manifestations
Type II Diabetes II: Pathophysiology
Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications