from National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Diabetes affects more than twenty-five percent
of Americans over the age of sixty-five. That
number comes from the National Institute of
Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. A
possible reason comes from researchers at the
National Institute of Aging. Their study found
that the number of taste buds we have on our
tongue decreases as we get older. The lower
the number of taste buds, the more likely our
fasting blood sugar levels increase—suggesting
a link to how the body uses sugar during aging,
which would explain the link with diabetes.
Previous studies show people with Type 2
diabetes have impaired sweet taste. Although
we have fewer taste buds on our tongue as we
get older, researchers say the risk of developing
Type 2 diabetes as we age could also involve
lesser amounts of a beneficial hormone. The
research was presented to the International
Society of Endocrinology and the Endocrine
Society meeting in Chicago.