diabetes and memory loss

[Brook]

Hello I am new here, I am a dutch woman ( so sorry for my poor language) of 45 years old and I am diagnosed with LADA, db type 1 since 2 years now. My bloodlevels are not very good, too high between 4 and 15. I know that's not good. The last few months I suffer from memory loss. Not just forgetting names, but also words and sentences and my spelling is not correct. I try to say something and I dont know the word and say something else or completely wrong. I know there is a connection between diabetes and alzheimer or vasculair disease. I am very worried that my high levels have already caused damage to my brain. I don't know what to do. I am so young but since my bloodlevels are not good I really am very worried that there is something terribly wrong. Does anyone recognise these symptoms?

 

[PickledPepper]

Since being diagnosed I too feel that my memory fails me.

I have a feeling that my low carbing is also (at least) partially responsible and recently I noticed that when trying to read on an emptyish stomach, I was misreading/pronunciating words quite frequently.

Other times, like when I'm feeling full, I don't have these problems. I had originally thought this may have been down to taking simvastatin but having been off them for a while, I still have the memory/concentration lapses, so I've eliminated that possible cause.

Don't panic and just focus on getting your levels right.

 

[daisy1]

Hi Brook and welcome to the forum I'm afraid I don't know how to help you about your memory problems but I can help you control your diabetes better. The Forum Monitors have written some advice which they give out to new members and I wondered if this advice would be helpful to you to get your levels down a bit. By the way 4 isn't a high level - in fact its the lowest level before you go hypo. The recommended levels are included in this basic advice.

Here is the advice we usually give to newly diagnosed diabetics. We hope that these few ideas gained through experience help you to gain control and give you some understanding of Diabetes. This forum doesn't always follow the recommended dietary advice, you have to work out what works for you as we are all different.

It's not just 'sugars' you need to avoid, diabetes is an inability to process glucose properly. Carbohydrate converts, in the body, to glucose. So it makes sense to reduce the amount of carbohydrate that you eat which includes sugars.

This is NOT a low carb diet suggestion, just a reduction in your intake of carbohydrate. You have to decide yourself how much of a reduction will keep your blood glucose levels in control.

The main carbs to avoid OR reduce are the complex or starchy carbohydrates such as bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, starchy root veg and also any flour based products. The starchy carbs all convert 100% to glucose in the body and raise the blood sugar levels significantly.

If you are on Insulin you may find that reducing the carb intake also means that you can reduce your dose of insulin. This can help you to keep weight gain down as Insulin tends to make you put on weight and eventually cause insulin resistance. This should be done slowly so as not to cause hypos.

The way to find out how different foods affect you is to do regular daily testing and keep a food diary for a couple of weeks. If you test just before eating, then two hours after eating, you will see the effect of certain foods on your blood glucose levels. Some foods, which are slow acting carbohydrates, are absorbed more slowly so you may need to test three or even four hours later to see the effect that these have on your blood glucose levels.

Buy yourself a carb counter book (you can get these on-line) and you will be able to work out how much carbs you are eating, when you test, the reading two hours after should be roughly the same as the before eating reading, if it is then that meal was fine, if it isn’t then you need to check what you have eaten and think about reducing the portion size of carbs.

When you are buying products check the total carbohydrate content, this includes the sugar content. Do not just go by the amount of sugar on the packaging as this is misleading to a diabetic.


As for a tester, try asking the nurse/doctor and explain that you want to be proactive in managing your own diabetes and therefore need to test so that you can see just how foods affect your blood sugar levels. Hopefully this will work ! Sometimes they are not keen to give Type 2’s the strips on prescription, (in the UK) but you can but try!!

If you are an Insulin user in theory you should have no problem getting test strips.

The latest 2010 NICE guidelines for Bg levels are as follows:
Fasting (waking).......between 4 - 7 mmol/l........(Type 1 & 2)
2 hrs after meals......no more than 8.5 mmol/l.....( Type 2)

2hrs after meals....... no more than 9 mmol/l ......(Type 1)

If you are able to keep the post meal numbers lower, so much the better.

It also helps if you can do 30 minutes moderate exercise a day. It doesn't have to be strenuous.

The above is just general advice and it is recommended that you discuss with your HCP before making any changes. You can also ask questions on the forum on anything that is not clear.

Sue/Ken.

 

[donnellysdogs]

Hi

There can be a huge number of reasons for getting memory loss, which may well have nothing to do with diabetes at all. A couple I know about are pernicious anaemia and fibromyalgia and even statins have now got warnings of side effects with the brain ie depression and memory...it may well be that this has just started happening around the time of diabetes. If this is a big problem to you for example....my memory was so bad that I could not find a customers house in a road, when I had been going there for 3+years-then speak to your GP and give examples...when my problems got as bad as I have just listed my gp sent me to a dementia clinic (age at time was 40), and they diagnosed pernicious anaemia-B12 and folic deficiency. This diagnosis has since been removed off my records, and I have now been diagnosed with fibromyalgia instead due other things that also coincide with the memory loss and confusion I can get. GP's should not just palm you off, they should take it just as seriously as any other complaint.

Despite 2 diagnosise I still have a dreadful memory and confusion, and having had a word describing the actual classification of what is wrong hasn't really helped my memory to return. Saying that, I would really recommend you to talk to your GP, as there are honestly so many causes of memory loss.

 

[Richard.E.Craig]

I forgot what I was going to write?

 

[daisy1]

Memory problems aren't funny :shock:

 

[bowell]

by Brook
I suffer from memory loss. Not just forgetting names, but also words and sentences

Are you on any other meds :?:

Memory loss
I forget important things like my medication , then take the same dose twice :?
Now need pill boxes for the day, need a prompt me to take them :?
I do forget words and how to express myself , its very frustrating
I do stupid things like putting shaving foam on my tooth brush ,Try and brush my teeth with my razor ,try and make coffee with the butter ? I could fill a book
Short term memory loss is the worst for me

Its sad ,,, I found its best ,just to have a good laugh at yourself ,if only to keep yourself sane
with my family its a matter of laughing with me ,not at you
I know mine is mostly due to medication :shock:

We are all guilty thinking whatever we have ,is down to our diabetes first :?

Loads of things that can lead to memory loss ,, inc Stress

Best advise would be to go and see your doctor soon as you can


Bob

 

[Richard.E.Craig]

Memory problems aren't funny :shock:

Neither are diabetes,stroke, respiratory failure,Necrotizing fasciitis, morphine addiction and registered blindness,I suffer from them all, but every day I laugh at them :lol:

P.S. I have two or three TIA's per week and sometimes forget my own children's names!
"C'est la vie"

 

[Dee Mauree]

Hello I am new here, I am a dutch woman ( so sorry for my poor language) of 45 years old and I am diagnosed with LADA, db type 1 since 2 years now. My bloodlevels are not very good, too high between 4 and 15. I know that's not good. The last few months I suffer from memory loss. Not just forgetting names, but also words and sentences and my spelling is not correct. I try to say something and I dont know the word and say something else or completely wrong. I know there is a connection between diabetes and alzheimer or vasculair disease. I am very worried that my high levels have already caused damage to my brain. I don't know what to do. I am so young but since my bloodlevels are not good I really am very worried that there is something terribly wrong. Does anyone recognise these symptoms?

HI

Don't worry too much about it. It may not be related to Diabetes at all, it could transient. I believe you are too young to have this now. However, you must make sure that you have good control of your blood glucose level. Consult your health prefessional if you need help. You must have a good discipline with the quantity you eat and balance this with your insulin intake. I am afraid , this a 'must'. Good luck

Dee

 

[kennybsn1]

imnot so sure of this theory as ive ghad type 1 for around 33yrs now and although im now well controlled and tow the line as it were,this wasnt allways the case,and when the rave culture started in 1989 thru to 1995 i did more than my fair share of all and then some more of all available drugs and i seem to be ok still but i do understand the concerns of brain involvement as is all of the body as it is served by the blood.just try to keep good control.im also a construction worker and work veryhard maybe this is the key(excercise)although im no expert and i still get baffled by this diabetes. good luck

 

[Erin]

Welcome Brook and thank you for the personal reports kennybsn1, Dee Mauree, Richard E. Craig, , bowell, donnellysdogs, daisy1, and Pickled Pepper. I am diabetes 2 for 5 yrs. and the memory lapse seems to be short-term and also surprising at times. For example I am not aware that I did something out of routine until I discover it later. I only wish that I had long-term memory lapse instead. Maybe that will happen in the future.

 

[Kat100]

Hi brook , so worth having some more health chats and maybe tests

From my own experience , my memory was awful when I needed iron and B 12 ....

There can be many reasons ....

Welcome to the forum , nice to meet you , hope you find the cause ...best wishes ...Kat

 

[Kat100]

Hello I am new here, I am a dutch woman ( so sorry for my poor language) of 45 years old and I am diagnosed with LADA, db type 1 since 2 years now. My bloodlevels are not very good, too high between 4 and 15. I know that's not good. The last few months I suffer from memory loss. Not just forgetting names, but also words and sentences and my spelling is not correct. I try to say something and I dont know the word and say something else or completely wrong. I know there is a connection between diabetes and alzheimer or vasculair disease. I am very worried that my high levels have already caused damage to my brain. I don't know what to do. I am so young but since my bloodlevels are not good I really am very worried that there is something terribly wrong. Does anyone recognise these symptoms?

Had a thought have you had hormone levels checked ...can cause awful problems with memory and feeling of confusion ...

 

[gemz]

Hi Brook, I also have type 1 and have had the exact same problem as you, I often find it really hard to get words out and when I think I want to do something if I don't do it straight away I forget it in seconds, it's really frustrating. It's called brain fog, high blood levels don't help but I have recently found that taking B Vitamins help alot. I did some research on brain fog and alot of people recommend them.