Halting Brain Damage After Diabetic Coma

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Halting Brain Damage After Diabetic Coma
May 1, 2005
US Department of Veterans Affairs

Researchers at the San Francisco VA Medical Center showed in animal studies that pyruvate—a natural, nontoxic byproduct of glucose metabolism—may prevent brain-cell death and cognitive loss in diabetics following an episode of severely low blood sugar. Standard emergency-room treatment for such episodes of severe hypoglycemia—low blood sugar—is glucose alone. This restores consciousness right away, but does not always prevent the subsequent death of brain cells and possible cognitive impairment. According to the new research, pyruvate plus glucose may not only restore consciousness, but also be effective in preventing brain damage. (Diabetes, 5/05)