Among diabetic, higher blood glucose, or hyperglycemia, has historically been associated with anger or sadness, while blood sugar dips, or hypoglycemia, has been associated with nervousness. Persons with diabetes are not the only ones vulnerable to mood disturbances as a result of blood sugar fluctuations.
Because glucose is a brain food that increases self-control, those who have difficulty metabolizing glucose should have less self-control. Low levels of self-control are linked to high levels of aggression [Gottfredson and Hirschi, 1990]. Diabetes is a disorder characterized by the inability to metabolize glucose.
Anger initiates the stress response within the body causing blood sugar levels to rise, heart rate and blood pressure to increase. It is normal for people with diabetes to experience anger, often questioning why it is them with diabetes whilst other people are healthy.
Changes in blood sugar can cause rapid changes in mood and other mental symptoms such as fatigue, trouble thinking clearly, and anxiety. Having diabetes can cause a condition called diabetes distress which shares some traits of stress, depression and anxiety.
People with diabetes are 2 to 3 times more likely to have depression than people without diabetes. Only 25% to 50% of people with diabetes who have depression get diagnosed and treated. But treatment—therapy, medicine, or both—is usually very effective. And without treatment, depression often gets worse, not better.
When your blood sugar fluctuates, spikes, or drops, it can produce feelings of anger, anxiety, or depression. You may feel like your emotions are out of your control. More seriously, extremes of both hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia can lead to cognitive impairment, confusion, loss of self-control, or hallucinations.
Diabetes doesn't just affect you physically, it can affect you emotionally too. Whether you've just been diagnosed or you've lived with diabetes for a long time, you may need support for all the emotions you're feeling. This could be stress, feeling low and depressed, or burnt out.
Effects of diabetes on relationships
Having type 1 or type 2 diabetes may place strain on relationships due to the factors we describe above. Also, having any chronic condition can increase the need for emotional support and the potential for frustration and tension, which can lead to conflict.
The risk of high cholesterol was 26% higher in white women and 35% higher in white men who reported low levels of childhood abuse compared to their peers who were not abused. White men also were 81% more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes if they experienced occasional or frequent abuse.
AGEs, the products of nonenzymatic glycation and oxidation of proteins, form to an accelerated degree in hyperglycemia. AGEs, largely via RAGE, activate signaling mechanisms that cause cell stress, contribute to cellular dysfunction, and damage target organs, leading to complications.
Diabetes is an example of secondary psychosis. General secondary psychotic symptoms—like those in diabetes—primarily include: Visual hallucinations. Delusional thinking. Confusion.
What is diabetes burnout? Feeling burnout because of diabetes can be different for everyone, but it can mean you stop taking care of yourself and your diabetes. For some people, this means skipping insulin doses or not taking your tablets. Some describe it as hitting a wall or giving up.
Then, when blood sugar is uncontrolled because diabetes is poorly managed, clear thinking is impaired and mood swings can ensue, exacerbating bipolar symptoms.
Talk with your family and friends.
Tell those closest to you how you feel about having diabetes. Be honest about the problems you're having in dealing with diabetes. Just telling others how you feel helps to relieve some of the stress. However, sometimes the people around you may add to your stress.
Anyone with stress faces an increased risk of getting type 2 diabetes or seeing changes in your diabetes if you've already been diagnosed. Both physical and emotional stress can cause changes in your blood sugar levels, which can cause or worsen your diabetes.
Overactivation of this process from excess sugar intake may cause impulsive behavior that could range from ADHD, to bipolar disorder or even aggression.
Yes, emotions can affect your blood sugar. Anxiety, fear, even that happy feeling you had when you got that new job can be stressful sometimes. When we're stressed – whether it's physical stress or mental stress – our bodies produce hormones such as cortisol that can raise blood glucose even if we haven't eaten.
Stress from diabetes
Diabetes is often a cause of stress, particularly in the early days when you've just been diagnosed. Having to pay close to attention to what you eat and having lots of new things to learn and remember can feel tough.
There was a significant relationship between self-esteem and depressive symptoms in this sample (p = . 003). Approximately 35.6% of people with diabetes had both low self-esteem and depressive symptoms.
A: Yes. Studies have demonstrated that people who have diabetes, compared with people without diabetes, are more likely to develop cognitive problems. Older adults with diabetes have higher incidences of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and vascular dementia than those with normal glucose tolerance.
Type 2 diabetes is a common condition that causes the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood to become too high. It can cause symptoms like excessive thirst, needing to pee a lot and tiredness. It can also increase your risk of getting serious problems with your eyes, heart and nerves.