POOR MEMORY

[Wirrallass]

Is poor memory associated with Diabetes?

I've noticed I've become forgetful since dx ~ I'm fine with long term memory but my short term memory is driving me to distraction!!!

Sometimes I think I'm on the verge of dementia ~ then what? Alzheimer's? The very thought worries & spooks me no end!!

But on the other hand when my number's up I will depart without any memories of Diabetes but would be sad not to take with me my life's happier memory's of my family & friends ~ particularly those in this forum.

 

[Ljc]

I noticed the same a while back. As there is dementia in my family I was worried. So I spoke to GP who run a few blood tests which showed ok apart from Folic acid being low , I've finished the course of pills now and am back to my old self.
The best advise I can give you is go and have a chat with the GP and ask to have blood test for things that can cause poor memory.
Do let us know how you get on.

 

[Drummer]

I was put on Metformin and Atorvastatin when diagnosed, my memory was very badly affected - bad news for a folk singer with a former repertoire in the hundreds, now I am trying to learn a dozen or so of the ones people ask me for.
I can't remember where I park the car at the supermarket, and I stopped taking the tablets after about 5 weeks. I think my memory is gone for good as that was before Christmas.
I am reading some good books these days though.
I know from my diary what a state I was in, but that time is just a blur. I stopped writing my diary after a few weeks. It didn't hurt - if I had not got a shock which jolted me out of my dazed state I'd probably be sitting in a nursing home now with kind people ensuring I got my medication each day to keep me healthy - shame about the mind.

 

[Ditto]

My memory has been going for a long time. I went to the docs years ago and they were sending me for a memory test but phoned to say no, it was raised glucose and that was it, no help or advice on the glucose levels, just a cancelled memory test! I used to have a great memory.

 

[pav]

I lost some memory when I was ill a few good years ago, and it still can be a bit ropy today, even to the extent I forgot when my kidney scan was thought it was next week when it should of been yesterday. I got the times and dates all mixed up, but don't know if it's a left over from the illness years ago or high levels that I can hit.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

I've noticed I've become forgetful since dx ~ I'm fine with long term memory but my short term memory is driving me to distraction!!!

Could I have that fiver back I lent you please? 😉😛🙂

 

[Wirrallass]

I noticed the same a while back. As there is dementia in my family I was worried. So I spoke to GP who run a few blood tests which showed ok apart from Folic acid being low , I've finished the course of pills now and am back to my old self.
The best advise I can give you is go and have a chat with the GP and ask to have blood test for things that can cause poor memory.
Do let us know how you get on.

Thanks Lin I appreciate this - how long were taking the tablets for ~ was it just one course? x

 

[Wirrallass]

Could I have that fiver back I lent you please? 😉😛🙂

That made me LOL so much so I needed picking up from the floor! ......and dont you remember I gave it back to you the next day?!!!!

 

[Ljc]

Thanks Lin I appreciate this - how long were taking the tablets for ~ was it just one course? x

I was on 1 tiny Folic Acid a day for three months , am awaiting another blood test to see if levels are ok. I'm pretty sure they are now , as my memory is back to normal.
Do go and ask for the blood tests, it's far better than worrying and not knowing the cause.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

That made me LOL so much so I needed picking up from the floor! ......and dont you remember I gave it back to you the next day?!!!!

Pleased it gave you a smile the old gags are the best

As Ljc says though have a chat with your GP as simple basic tests can be done to find out what's causing the memory problems. There are also memory clinics which can also run specific tests to find a pattern for the loss.
I had these tests done due to short term memory problems and surprisingly I found them very reassuring.
One of the things I came away with is that I am fully aware I have the problem thus find ways to help myself, i.e. if bills have to be paid I put them in the hallway on the floor so I can do nothing but remember to do them.
This to the assessor indicated that as I was solving or trying to solve the problem then I certainly did not have dementia or Alzheimer's. A brain scan also confirmed this. All that showed was lesions due to MS so nothing to worry about 🙂

 

[Wirrallass]

I was put on Metformin and Atorvastatin when diagnosed, my memory was very badly affected - bad news for a folk singer with a former repertoire in the hundreds, now I am trying to learn a dozen or so of the ones people ask me for.
I can't remember where I park the car at the supermarket, and I stopped taking the tablets after about 5 weeks. I think my memory is gone for good as that was before Christmas.
I am reading some good books these days though.
I know from my diary what a state I was in, but that time is just a blur. I stopped writing my diary after a few weeks. It didn't hurt - if I had not got a shock which jolted me out of my dazed state I'd probably be sitting in a nursing home now with kind people ensuring I got my medication each day to keep me healthy - shame about the mind.

Yes I agree shame about the mind and I'm sorry to hear what you've been through Drummer. Forgetting where I parked my car has occurred with me too, ~ many times. Also after my car had been through its MOT I came home & put the pass document in a 'safe' place til I pùt it in my car folder later on ~ that was in June this year ~ within a few hours I couldn't remember where I'd put it. Long story short ~ I found it 2 days ago in the spot I'd left it, then I remembered putting it there. Crazy!!

 

[Wirrallass]

Pleased it gave you a smile the old gags are the best

As Ljc says though have a chat with your GP as simple basic tests can be done to find out what's causing the memory problems. There are also memory clinics which can also run specific tests to find a pattern for the loss.
I had these tests done due to short term memory problems and surprisingly I found them very reassuring.
One of the things I came away with is that I am fully aware I have the problem thus find ways to help myself, i.e. if bills have to be paid I put them in the hallway on the floor so I can do nothing but remember to do them.
This to the assessor indicated that as I was solving or trying to solve the problem then I certainly did not have dementia or Alzheimer's. A brain scan also confirmed this. All that showed was lesions due to MS so nothing to worry about 🙂

Thank you Drummer ~ that's interesting - I do have a place for everything but on the odd occasions when I don't replace things in their rightful place then the hunting game begins!😱 Names are another distinctive failing of mine too. For instance Actors & Actresses! I had an hilarious telephone conversation once with my aged late father on the same topic when he said he'd watched a film the previous night but couldn't remember the name of one of his favourite actors who was in the film - it would take me an eternity to tell you about it but the actor was ~ let me think now ~ oh Erm....that chap in the film what's it called!!!🙄😡

 

[Ditto]

My sister is always looking for her specs and they are always on her head! 🙄

 

[Grannylorraine]

I put my bad memory over the last 2 -3 years down to the menopause, but maybe D has something to do with it as well.

 

[Wirrallass]

My sister is always looking for her specs and they are always on her head! 🙄

That's happened to me too ~ and sometimes I've been looking for something and its either been right in front of my eyes or in my hands! My grandson thinks its hilarious because he can see what I'm looking for!

 

[Wirrallass]

I noticed the same a while back. As there is dementia in my family I was worried. So I spoke to GP who run a few blood tests which showed ok apart from Folic acid being low , I've finished the course of pills now and am back to my old self.
The best advise I can give you is go and have a chat with the GP and ask to have blood test for things that can cause poor memory.
Do let us know how you get on.

I was on 1 tiny Folic Acid a day for three months , am awaiting another blood test to see if levels are ok. I'm pretty sure they are now , as my memory is back to normal.
Do go and ask for the blood tests, it's far better than worrying and not knowing the cause.

Thanks Lin ~ l'll make appt to see my GP. I hadn't thought to see GP because i put my short term memory loss down to either my age or diabetes ~ hence this thread x

 

[Randall Hopkirk]

The modern high carb (sugar) diet is to blame for most ills including diabesity, dementia and cancers. A high fat - low carb diet (nutritional ketosis) will improve things over time. Check out these articles. https://www.forbes.com/sites/aliceg...-to-reduced-memory-brain-volume/#35fdcf665dad
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2017/05/06/sugar-brain-health.aspx

 

[mikeyB]

If it is to blame for all the ills you say, I'd like to see better evidence than those two shabby and lazy studies you linked to. No control population , and no other dietary aspect other than drinks studied, and, most damningly, no alcohol or smoking was eliminated,

If you really are trying to educate yourself on Google, the first thing you should learn is how to sort the wheat from the chaff.

The author of that Forbes article, I note, is a psychologist and behavioural scientist, so I wouldn't expect her to know any better when it comes to physiology.

 

[Amigo]

If it is to blame for all the ills you say, I'd like to see better evidence than those two shabby and lazy studies you linked to. No control population , and no other dietary aspect other than drinks studied, and, most damningly, no alcohol or smoking was eliminated,

If you really are trying to educate yourself on Google, the first thing you should learn is how to sort the wheat from the chaff.

The author of that Forbes article, I note, is a psychologist and behavioural scientist, so I wouldn't expect her to know any better when it comes to physiology.

Absolutely agree Mike. Certainly on the site I administer, the use of articles from Mercola are positively discouraged.

'In 2005, 2006, and 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Mercola and his company to stop making illegal claims regarding his products' ability to detect, prevent, and treat disease. The medical watchdog site Quackwatch has criticized Mercola for making "unsubstantiated claims [that] clash with those of leading medical and public health organizations and many unsubstantiated recommendations for dietary supplements."

There is reliable and scientifically sound research linking diabetes with a higher incidence of dementia but it's only one variable of many including genetic pre-disposition.
As diabetes can cause vascular problems, it's not unsurprising to see a link but there's dozens of different types and reasons for the different types of dementia. I'd be eliminating vitamin deficiencies and emotional pressures as well as processes like the menopause first.

 

[Randall Hopkirk]

If it is to blame for all the ills you say, I'd like to see better evidence than those two shabby and lazy studies you linked to. No control population , and no other dietary aspect other than drinks studied, and, most damningly, no alcohol or smoking was eliminated,

If you really are trying to educate yourself on Google, the first thing you should learn is how to sort the wheat from the chaff.

The author of that Forbes article, I note, is a psychologist and behavioural scientist, so I wouldn't expect her to know any better when it comes to physiology.

Have you not seen the latest PURE study published in The Lancet. It'll cost you to read it, but here's an overview: https://proteinpower.com/drmike/2017/03/04/dr-salim-yusuf-and-the-pure-study/
There's plenty more good evidence online all leading to the same conclusion. if you're prepared to put the work in and don't get taken in by all the food industry and drug company propaganda.