Background and objectives: Working and short term memory loss is common in elderly and poorly controlled diabetic patients. Though cognitive deficits affect daily activities much importance is not given to assess working and short term memory at bedside. Hence this study was undertaken to compare working and short term memory in type 2 diabetics to correlate with duration. Materials and methods: Present study was conducted in Al-Ameen Medical College and Government district Hospital, Bijapur on 114 diabetics (40-60 yrs). Cognitive function assessment was done for short term and working memory by using 5 memory tests. For short term memory- AVLT, VFT and VRT and for working memory __ampersandsignndash; WDST and VST were used. The results were expressed in average total scores (%). one way ANOVA followed by post hoc __ampersandsignldquo;t__ampersandsignrdquo; test and correlation- regression analysis were used for statistical analysis. Results: Short term and working memory status was negatively correlated with duration of the diabetes. Among diabetics elderly aged (__ampersandsigngt; 55yrs) showed greater cognitive decline compared to younger age group. Conclusion: The short term and working memory status in the present study decreased significantly in the diabetic patients, which may be due to hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, vascular dementia and insulin resistance, amyloid deposition, type of diabetes, co morbidities, age of onset, duration and type of therapy. Therefore these observed effects of duration, age, gender and blood glucose levels are of potential clinical importance because working and short term memory loss could interfere with day today activities.