It’s a symptom of unstable blood sugar.Ī healthier diet and adjustments to your medication can help you manage the underlying cause of brain fog and improve cognitive function. Remember, too, brain fog isn’t a medical condition. The good news, though, is that brain fog isn’t usually permanent, so you can reverse mental fatigue with the right treatment. They may switch you to another drug or adjust your dosage to prevent low blood sugar. If you believe your brain fog is medication-induced, speak with your healthcare provider. This helps balance brain chemicals (neurotransmitters and serotonin) in your brain, as well as prevent blood vessel damage that can lead to cognitive problems. Preventing symptoms of brain fog with diabetes starts with keeping a stable blood sugar level. This can help improve your blood sugar level and increase alertness. If you’re feeling a little sluggish or foggy, go for a 10-, 15-, or 30-minute walk. Exercise can improve insulin sensitivity, allowing your body to use sugar for energy. Being tired can worsen brain fog, yet sleep and rest can help keep your mind sharp. Sleep is how your body repairs itself, so make sure you’re getting plenty of rest at night - at least 7 to 8 hours. This way, you avoid agreeing or committing to something that you wouldn’t have otherwise. It’s also important to hold off making any major decisions until brain fog improves. Don’t make major decisions while you’re feeling foggy.Take notes whenever you’re told something important or if you have to remember an appointment. Keep a pad and pen with you or use the Notes feature on your cellphone. Because brain fog can affect memory, don’t rely on memorization when you’re feeling a little foggy or unclear. This can help you identify possible triggers and avoid these foods and activities. If you’re dealing with brain fog or other cognitive difficulties, write down everything you do and eat for a few days or whenever symptoms develop. Foods and activities can affect your blood sugar differently.

In the meantime, the following tips can help you cope with cognitive dysfunction. Blood sugar can also drop after an intense workout or if you skip meals.īrain fog should improve as your blood sugar returns to a healthy level. Low blood sugar can occur as a side effect of diabetes medication, such as taking too much insulin for the amount of food you’re eating.

This can make it difficult to concentrate. When the body doesn’t receive enough sugar or glucose for energy, brain cells can’t function properly. Low blood sugarĪdditionally, low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, can have a similar effect on the brain causing: This can lead to brain cell damage, nerve damage, and inflammation in the brain, which all contribute to cognitive problems like memory loss and brain fog. Yet, too much serotonin and increased neurotransmitters can have the opposite effect. These chemicals normally have a positive effect on nerve cells and brain function. And when there’s insufficient blood circulation in the brain, you might not think as clearly.Īlso, too much blood sugar can increase serotonin and neurotransmitters in the brain. High blood sugar can damage your blood vessels, resulting in poor blood circulation. This leads to hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar. When sugar cannot enter your cells, it accumulates in your bloodstream. Insulin helps the sugar in your bloodstream enter the cells of your body. Brain fog often occurs as a response to blood sugar levels that aren’t properly managed - blood sugar that’s too high or too low.

Blood tests for brain fog