New research suggests that Type 2 diabetes are associated with worse performance on cognitive tests measuring abilities involved in the control of emotions, behaviors and thought.

Type 2 diabetes is associated with decreased quality of life and a number of microvascular and macrovascular complications if not properly managed.

Researchers at the University of Waterloo examined the link between type 2 diabetes and a reduction of certain cognitive abilities, known as executive functions. The executive functions inhibit habitual thinking patterns, knee-jerk emotional reactions and reflexive behaviors such as making impulse purchases or automatically following social cues.

"This facet of brain function is particularly important because we rely on it when we are attempting to behave in a way that is contrary to our natural inclinations or what the environment impels us to do," Corrie Vincent, lead author of the study, said in a statement.

For the study, researchers reviewed 60 studies comparing 9,815 individuals with type 2 diabetes to 69,254 controls without it and examined their performance on measures of executive function. Study participants with the disease were encouraged to consistently monitor their dietary choices, check their blood sugar and adhere to medication schedules.

"The types of behaviors that are recommended to help individuals control type 2 diabetes are all things that do not come naturally to most people. Human beings have fairly reliable preferences for high-calorie foods and to resist medical routines that are inconvenient or time-consuming," Peter Hall, senior author on the study, said in a statement.

Many individuals with type 2 diabetes experience burnout in managing their disease. The inability to self-manage the condition is often a source of concern among family members, physicians and even the patients themselves.

Approximately 600 million people live with type 2 diabetes worldwide, with nearly 800 million cases expected by 2030, making it one of the greatest global health concerns of modern times. More than 2 million Canadians currently live with type 2 diabetes.

The findings are detailed in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine.