Daily Life
Alzheimer's, Diet, Blood Sugar, and Insulin
Article no. 8 · March 9, 2026 · Updated September 20, 2026 ·
Research suggests that brain health is not only affected by changes in the brain but also by the body's metabolism and blood sugar regulation. A diet that provides stable blood sugar and avoids large blood sugar fluctuations can therefore be an important part of a broader strategy to support brain function in Alzheimer's.
When I received my Alzheimer's diagnosis, I naturally began to wonder what could be done to influence the disease's progression. Diet is a factor that is often discussed, I've come to understand. Diet cannot cure the disease, but much suggests that it can affect the biological systems important for brain function.
Alzheimer's is a complex disease where several systems in the body play a role simultaneously. Research points, among other things, to the importance of energy metabolism, insulin regulation, blood vessels, inflammation, and nerve cell signaling. Therefore, interest has grown in how diet and blood sugar regulation can affect brain health.
Insulin is an important factor here.
What is insulin?
Most people have heard of insulin, but many are unsure what it actually does. Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas. Its job is to help the body's cells absorb glucose (blood sugar) from the blood and use it as energy.
When we eat carbohydrates, they are broken down into glucose, which enters the bloodstream. Blood sugar then rises. The body reacts by releasing insulin. Insulin acts as a kind of key that opens the cells so that glucose can be absorbed and used as fuel.
In this way, insulin helps regulate blood sugar levels in the body.
What happens when the system doesn't work optimally?
If the body is exposed to large blood sugar fluctuations for a long time, the cells can gradually become less sensitive to insulin. This is called insulin resistance.