Blood Sugar and Memory: What Helps, Plus Our Phytomem One Review

In a 2021 interview published by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), Dr. José Luchsinger of Columbia University explained that people with diabetes are more likely to develop cognitive problems than people without diabetes, and older adults with diabetes have higher rates of dementia. Attention and planning are often affected first, more than memory itself. Some studies suggest that the longer or more severe the diabetes, the higher the risk, though not all studies show this. Diabetes damages blood vessels, including those in the brain¹.

One honest caveat from the same interview: better blood sugar control matters for many reasons, but it has not been shown to protect memory. In the ACCORD-MIND study, tight glucose control did not help prevent cognitive impairment or improve thinking¹.

Diabetes is also one of the 14 changeable risk factors⁴ named by the 2024 Lancet Commission on dementia, which estimated that 45% of future dementia could potentially be prevented⁴ if all 14 were eliminated. That is a population estimate, not a promise for any one person.

You are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes⁵ if you are 45 or older, have a family history of it, or are overweight, among other factors.

• Know your A1C. The A1C blood test shows your average blood glucose over the past three months². Ask your doctor what yours is and what it should be.
• Follow your plan, and say so if it's getting hard. NIA notes that both very high and very low blood sugar can put your health at risk². NIDDK points out that forgetting appointments or medicines can itself be a sign of a thinking problem¹, so tell your doctor rather than struggling alone.
• Ask about a memory check. NIA says that if you have diabetes, your doctor may screen you for cognitive impairment². According to NIDDK, the American Diabetes Association's 2021 guidelines call for screening adults 65 and older with diabetes.

1. Move most days. The CDC advises adults 65 and older to get at least 150 minutes a week of moderate activity³, like brisk walking, plus muscle-strengthening on two days and some balance work.
2. Get your hearing checked. About a third of older adults have hearing loss, and it is linked with a greater risk of dementia¹⁶. In one analysis, people who used hearing aids had a lower risk of long-term cognitive decline.
3. Know your blood pressure. High blood pressure often has no symptoms you can see or feel¹⁷. In the SPRINT MIND trial of people 50 and older with high blood pressure (people with diabetes or a past stroke were not included), a lower treatment goal reduced the risk of mild cognitive impairment, a secondary outcome; the main outcome, dementia, did not change significantly¹⁸. Ask your doctor what your target should be.
4. Protect your sleep. Older adults need about seven to nine hours a night¹⁹, and sleep problems can cause memory problems⁷ of their own.
5. Stay in touch with people. In an NIA-funded study of over 7,000 people 65 and older, high social engagement was linked with better cognitive health¹⁷.
6. Keep learning. In one study¹⁷, older adults who learned quilting or digital photography improved their memory more than those who only socialized.
7. Look after your eyes, cholesterol and blood sugar. Untreated vision loss, high LDL cholesterol and diabetes are all on the 2024 list⁴, and NIA advises managing chronic conditions and treating hearing or vision loss¹⁷.
8. Don't smoke, and go easy on alcohol. Both are on the Lancet list⁴ too.

Berberine, Ceylon cinnamon and banaba leaf in Phytomem One are marketed for blood sugar. NIH says that for a few supplements, cinnamon and berberine among them, there is weak evidence of a possible benefit⁵, with no clear conclusions. None replaces diabetes care, and if you take diabetes medicine, clear any of them with your doctor first.

Forgetting things now and then is common at any age⁷. Serious memory problems are different: they make everyday things hard⁷, like driving, using the phone or finding the way home. The National Institute on Aging compares them like this:

NIA also lists these signs that it may be time to talk with a doctor:

• Asking the same questions over and over again
• Getting lost in places you used to know well
• Having trouble following recipes or directions
• Becoming more confused about time, people and places
• Not taking care of yourself: eating poorly, not bathing, or behaving unsafely

Many causes can be treated. Memory problems can come from things other than dementia, and NIA says these problems usually go away once the condition is successfully treated⁷. Causes include:

• Side effects of medicines
• Low vitamin B12 or not eating enough healthy food
• Thyroid, kidney or liver problems
• Sleep problems
• Depression and anxiety
• Alcohol or drug misuse
• A head injury, such as a concussion
• Blood clots, tumors or infections in the brain

Big life changes, like retiring or losing a spouse, can also leave people forgetful for a while. If memory problems last more than a few weeks, talk with your doctor⁷. NIA's free ADEAR Center answers questions at 800-438-4380.

1. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Can Diabetes Lead to Cognitive Impairment? (Interview with José A. Luchsinger, MD, July 28, 2021.) www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/professionals/diabetes-discoveries-practice/can-diabetes-lead-cognitive-impairment
2. National Institute on Aging. Diabetes in Older People. www.nia.nih.gov/health/diabetes/diabetes-older-people
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Older Adult Activity: An Overview. www.cdc.gov/physical-activity-basics/guidelines/older-adults.html
4. Alzheimer Europe. 2024 Lancet Commission underscores the potential for dementia risk reduction, identifying 14 modifiable risk factors across the life course. www.alzheimer-europe.org/news/2024-lancet-commission-underscores-potential-dementia-risk-reduction-identifying-14-modifiable
5. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Diabetes and Dietary Supplements: What You Need To Know. www.nccih.nih.gov/health/diabetes-and-dietary-supplements-what-you-need-to-know
6. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). 7 Things To Know About Dietary Supplements for Cognitive Function, Dementia, and Alzheimer's Disease. www.nccih.nih.gov/health/tips/things-to-know-about-dietary-supplements-for-cognitive-function-dementia-and-alzheimers-disease
7. National Institute on Aging. Memory Problems, Forgetfulness, and Aging. www.nia.nih.gov/health/memory-loss-and-forgetfulness/memory-problems-forgetfulness-and-aging
8. PubMed search for "phytomem" (no results on October 28, 2026). pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=%22phytomem%22
9. ClinicalTrials.gov search for "phytomem" (no results on October 28, 2026). clinicaltrials.gov/search?term=phytomem
10. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Questions and Answers on Dietary Supplements. www.fda.gov/food/information-consumers-using-dietary-supplements/questions-and-answers-dietary-supplements
11. Ayati Z, et al. Saffron for mild cognitive impairment and dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies. 2020;20:333. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7650148/
12. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Goldenseal: Usefulness and Safety. www.nccih.nih.gov/health/goldenseal
13. Bathaei P, Imenshahidi M, Hosseinzadeh H. Effects of Berberis vulgaris, and its active constituent berberine on cytochrome P450: a review. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology. 2025;398(1):179-202. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39141022/
14. Wu X, et al. Effects of berberine on the blood concentration of cyclosporin A in renal transplanted recipients. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 2005;61(8):567-572. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16133554/
15. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Paws Off Xylitol; It's Dangerous for Dogs. www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/paws-xylitol-its-dangerous-dogs
16. National Institute on Aging. Hearing Loss: A Common Problem for Older Adults. www.nia.nih.gov/health/hearing-and-hearing-loss/hearing-loss-common-problem-older-adults
17. National Institute on Aging. Cognitive Health and Older Adults. www.nia.nih.gov/health/brain-health/cognitive-health-and-older-adults
18. SPRINT MIND Investigators. Effect of intensive vs standard blood pressure control on probable dementia: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2019;321(6):553-561. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30688979/
19. National Institute on Aging. Sleep and Older Adults. www.nia.nih.gov/health/sleep/sleep-and-older-adults