A new study suggests that individuals with type 2 diabetes may have poor impulse control.

Researchers in Japan assessed response inhibition, which is a measure of self-control, in 27 patients with type-2 diabetes and 27 healthy controls.

They used a test in which participants had to quickly press a button in response to the correct signal on a computer screen. They found that patients with diabetes performed significantly worse at the test, suggesting that they struggled to control the impulse to press the button. Other results showed that the inhibitory failure observed in diabetic patients was mainly explained by cognitive impairment of impulsivity control, rather than by deficits in motor performance, error monitoring and adjustment.

"This suggests the possibility that the neuropsychological deficits in response inhibition may contribute to the behavioral problems leading to chronic lifestyle-related diseases, such as type 2 diabetes," said lead researcher Hiroaki Kumano.

The study, published in the journal BioPsychoSocial Medicine, suggests that neurological changes result in an inability to resist temptation, which may in turn exacerbate diabetes.

Exercising, maintaining a healthy weight and eating a healthy, balanced diet are among the best ways to prevent diabetes and control blood sugar levels naturally.

Nutritional supplements containing beta carotene, blond psyllium, chromium, flaxseed, ginseng and milk thistle are among the substances believed to help naturally lower blood sugar in diabetics.