I am trying to find anyone else who is dealing with Short Term memory problems and declining thinking skills. I've had problems with this for 3-4 years and the doctor can't seem to figure out what's going on. I'm having trouble at work in a field I've been in for over 20 years.

Would love to hear from anyone with any info. Thanks.

Miss Helen, and others,
If you go to the bottom of this page you will see "Breaking Health Alerts". click on it and go to page 3 article 21
Alzheimer's: A New Form of Diabetes?
Insulin Problems Linked to Early Stages of Alzheimer's Disease. It is an article from webmd. It might answer some of your questions on memory loss. I also sometimes have trouble remembering peoples names, finding the right words when I write letters ect. Makes you wonder.....

I've experienced the same things over the past 4 years. My physician didn't seem to be as concerned about memory loss as I am, and wrote the diagnosis as "senior moments." Since I don't qualify for any senior discounts, the diagnosis seemed premature. I have extensive background in head injuries, so I decided to do some things that had been part of "re-training " the brain to recapture some of the missing cognitive abilities. I use simple math flash cards, play a form of the "Match Game" with cards to help me improve my recall, play strategy board games such as chess, checkers and Chinese Checkers, and do crossword puzzles. I have noticed some improvement in a short time, and I remember a teacher who was opposed to television because she felt if you don't exercise the brain it begins to lose it's capabilities like any other muscle. She may have been more on track than I thought!.

Miss Helen,
In addition to Frilots response, they are linking low insulin levels to alzheimers. Basically insulin moves the sugar into the cells to feed them. If a person has low insulin levels, basically the cells are starving. Starving cells cant do their job correctly, cant function correctly, and can start to die off. It is an interesting read.
How are your blood sugars? Keeping them as close to normal as possible can help. If you arent getting close to normal blood sugars with pills request insulin. Even a small amount 2xs a day may help your health!

I just checked out the thing on page 3 article 21. It doesn't seem to have anything to do with the memory problems. Does this change from day to day?

Yes Miss Helen,
apparantly the pages are updated, it is now on pg 5 article 41. Look for "Alzheimer's: A New Form of Diabetes?"

Memory and thinking problems are also a symptom of a thyroid problem. Brain fog is waht some call it and it can be bad at times. Maybe wonder to the Thyroid section and read some of the other symptoms we all seem to ignore.

I am hypothyroid but have been on increasing meds for about 25 years. Was real bad last year. All the other problems, weight, hair loss, fatigue etc completely cleared up. Memory isn't one bit better. I don't think, and doctor agrees, that the problem is not my thyroid.

Me. I work as an Accountant and have been in my field for 10 years. I am having trouble at work and at home with short term memory. Simple things like which way to turn a screw to loosen it. Or I will be staring at something knowing it is something I know how to do yet am unable to process how to do it. It is very frustrating.

MissHelen, I wish I had the perfect answer for you, but all I can do is share with you that, four years ago, I was forced to take disability retirement from a field I had been in for almost 30 years and had been gradually having short term memory troubles enough to be found unfit for duty when coupled with osteoarthritis in my knees! What I DIDN'T know was that, at this same time, my blood sugar was gradually rising also. My fasting tests would come back as 120 with an aC1 value of 6.5 and my doctor would mumble something about me being 'borderline' diabetic. Meanwhile, I would go to speak the name of someone (an old friend or just a TV celebrity) and not be able to recall it or a word I had used routinely most of my life and not be able to bring it up and speak it. Scary to say the least.

Anyway, in the four years since, I have had my doctor tell me that the memory problem was (1) hormonal from menopause (I am 60 and very much through that now); (2) caused by other meds that I was taking for a partial seizure syndrome; (3) more than likely just age-related!! So, I knew I was on my own.

I purchased, dowloaded and use daily a great computer game from MSN's game zone, called "Bespelled," which is basically a word game that gives your memory a workout and, in my humble opinion, it has greatly helped! I agree that it's a case of using it or losing it. And, being alone most of the time, this is just one small way that I keep exercising my mind the best I can. I still struggle with memory and my son and daughter will tell me "Mom, I just told you that a few minutes ago!", etc. So, yours is a great question that begs a more knowledgable review. Some things about this disease, I doubt if they will ever figure out.

Finally, there is an interesting article at this website: http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=55516 having to do with caffeine improving short term memory. So, if you like coffee, you might like to read that. And, of course, search "diabetes and short-term memory" at Google and you will see many references. Good luck with this. I will keep an eye on this thread to see if you return to update us on your progress.

Hi, have just read your note on this message board which I found this evening! Coincidently I was talking to my partner a couple of days ago about my PAST experiences of short term memory loss and confusion that you describe, so I felt I had to tell you what I told him. I have had diabetes for 22 years, for the first few years was on beef insulin, than they bought out the HUMAN INSULIN, after being on this insulin for a while, I started having the above mentioned problems, I just put it down to me, and perhaps maybe caused by years of hypos causing damage etc. Until one day, radio four did a programme on diabetics having side effects using human insulin. A few people on the programme mentioned short term memory problems, and something clicked, I couldn't believe it, apparantly some people were talking about sueing the company etc. Until hearing that programme, I never would of thought that it was possibly the insulin causing the problems. I changed back to my beef insulin, and I can honestly say my memory problems went. That was about 12 years ago, and my memory is very good. Ofcourse there is nothing to prove this, but if I was you I would seriously think about going back to animal insulin. Best of luck

Greeneyesofblue I would think that ten years experience in your field should give you enough to work with, without being concerned whether you can do your job. I've been in real estate 22 years and I forget stuff that I need to do, or forget to call someone back, because I called back the first voice mail message. In 1997 my ability to learn new things was fine when I took the classes and took the test and got a broker's license. Only problem was with math, but that's a lifelong problem. I'm also an independent contractor, so unless I really screw things up and get sued no one worries about it. I'm working on partnering up with another agent. That person already knows about the problem. I'm going to bug my doctor about this next week, because if this keeps up I'm going to be figuring out how to retire.

You may want to check into demitia, caused by also diabetes. It has been researched throughly and was reported on webmd. Check the webmd newletters. Memory loss is something to worry about, but trying to find a cause is hard at best. And alzheimers does damage memory also. It takes an amount of time to do so, but does affect memory over time. Happy holidays.

You may want to check into demitia, caused by also diabetes. It has been researched throughly and was reported on webmd. Check the webmd newletters. Memory loss is something to worry about, but trying to find a cause is hard at best. And alzheimers does damage memory also. It takes an amount of time to do so, but does affect memory over time. Happy holidays.

The reason I'm concerned is that it's having such an impact on my life. If it's "just" from the diabetes, I wonder if insulin is the answer. If it's alzheimers, which I'm beginning to think it's not, there are medicines that can slow the downward spiral.

Hopefully, I can get a referral to an endocronolist.

MissHelen-

Your mentioned alzheimers in your last post. You might do some research on the new things that they are finding about alzheimers and diabetes. So far all I have seen does not link them at all - they just are seeing a trend and have given some thought to a third type of diabetes(I know there are more than 2 types now actually)- being alzheimers. There has been some success in alzheimers by treating it with Avandia(a diabetic drug for insulin resistance)

Hi, have just read your note on this message board which I found this evening! Coincidently I was talking to my partner a couple of days ago about my PAST experiences of short term memory loss and confusion that you describe, so I felt I had to tell you what I told him. I have had diabetes for 22 years, for the first few years was on beef insulin, than they bought out the HUMAN INSULIN, after being on this insulin for a while, I started having the above mentioned problems, I just put it down to me, and perhaps maybe caused by years of hypos causing damage etc. Until one day, radio four did a programme on diabetics having side effects using human insulin. A few people on the programme mentioned short term memory problems, and something clicked, I couldn't believe it, apparantly some people were talking about sueing the company etc. Until hearing that programme, I never would of thought that it was possibly the insulin causing the problems. I changed back to my beef insulin, and I can honestly say my memory problems went. That was about 12 years ago, and my memory is very good. Ofcourse there is nothing to prove this, but if I was you I would seriously think about going back to animal insulin. Best of luck

I don't take insulin. I take glucophage and sometimes glyburide. I'm beginning to wonder if insulin might help.