Hello,
I have very unruly diabetes and I find that when my blood glucose is okay I feel so hyperactive and happy and bouncy. When I'm hyper I feel very slow and sometimes very irritable, and low weak etc. I find the difference when my blood glucose is good very strange - I'd imagine that is how I would feel if bloods were good all the time.
How does everyone elses mood alter with their diabetes?
Glucose definitely can have a huge impact on your mental state. When low, it's very hard for me to focus 100%; I feel physically weak and start to see "lights" when I drop down in the 40 range and lower. When high, I feel like sleeping, vomiting, and drinking massive amounts of water (sometimes all at the same time, which is really strange and unpleasant).
I feel best at 80-120, but any level from 60-200 is enough for me to function without being affected much. Once I get past 200, though, I start feeling the fatigue set in; past 300, I get the nausea and liquid cravings.
Since getting a CGM, I've noticed that the days where I run fairly flat like between 70 and 130 without many ups and downs (which only happens about once a month! I feel like most days I have some sudden spike or drop), is when I feel great!
But, anyways, you aren't alone in noticing mood changes with BG changes!
When I get low....hyper and giddy, my husband will say to me....you better check yourself...you must be low. I am a very happy person, but usually more laid back when I am in the normal range. When I get high, I am moody and sometime cry for no apparent reason!! Blood sugar definitely alters my mood.
I am only introverted when my BS is really high or really low. When it is low I am also weak, sad, and fatigued. When it is high I am angry, tired, and have a headache
When I get low......I get VERY irritable.
I don't notice big mood fluctuations with BS that a lot of people talk about. When I get low, I do get depressed, paraniod, sleepy, and angry sometimes. High not so much. I do feel like drinking water and my muscles ache sometimes. But no real mood change. I think it's because my personality is pretty upbeat and non mood swingish (if that's a word). Plus as my wife often tells me, I'm impervious.
Angela, like you my wife notices some behavior unknown to me and asks me to check my bg. to be honest it drives me crazy, I think because I want to be in control of myself. It is frustrating because she is right almost all of the time. Believe me, if I knew what she noticed I would probably change that behavior so I wouldn't be noticed even though it is good she notices because I don't feel low when it happens.
What I observe by these posts is that we are all very aware of how we feel and how we are effected by diabetes. I know normies don't feel this or get it. It is amazing what we with diabetes understand.
It's really interesting to hear what everyone has said. Dan in particular it's interesting that you say your wife picks up on your mood changes. It's such a tough one because on one side it's lovely that someone notices the change because it means they know you very well, but at the same time I get quite frustrated because I want to notice it and be in control myself!
Hypo: anxious, nervous, confused, reserved/ quiet.
Hyper: moody, irritable, annoyed easily.
My husband can pick up sometime on these symptoms - especially when I am hyper!!
Low blood sugar results in seratonin (neurotransmitter) level decreases, which results in the "diabetic hunger" that helps us eat to survive.
Another group of people that have low serotonin are those who are experiencing depression. So, it's not unusual to think that, when low, people are experiencing mini-depression symptoms (sadness, fatigue, excessive hunger, sleeping problems, etc) in addition to other weird things that may happen (hallucinations, etc). Everyone's body is different in how they react to these changes, though.
I haven't read any of research on high blood sugars and how that affects mood, but I agree with everyone else that it does something. I usually get more irritated or less patient.
I've never noticed any mood differences, but my bf says I toss and turn a lot when my BG is high and I'm sleeping and I'm like passed out when it's low (when it takes a lot to wake me up).
i have mood differences my mom says i toss and turn a lot where my bg is high & it im low i dont want to go to sleep or i pass out so i try to stay a wake or im hyper & anxious or nervous & reserved or just quiet & im get annoyed easily.
I guess we are all "Hormonal"! After all, insulin is a hormone...
Actually, this is funny as I was going to post something about mood changes. Two weeks ago my numbers were in the normal range and I felt great. Thought my Diabetes was under control. Then I went sky high because I didn't know my canula was bent and I wasn't getting any insulin at all. Trying to recover from such severe high then bouncing up and down trying to get stable has been sooooo frustrating. I have felt depressed, can't sleep, stomach upset and very irritable.
I am a painter and when I am in pretty normal range, I produce a lot of work. When it is all over the place I find myself just pushing paint around unable to focus and basically creating a big mess. That's when I know my sugars are messed up and it creates a lot of anxiety. I am suppose to have work done by the latest , end of September for a group show. I am trying to stay positive, and that I will get it all done.
Does anyone have trouble being productive in work or school when Diabetes seems to be in the driver's seat?
I have big time trouble, usually when I get home from school......I am a teacher. My control is usually really good throughout the day, but when I get home, I just feel like crashing.....
I am absolutely crazy when my bg is high! I get very aggravated and mean!!! I hate it!
High: Impatient, easily irritable
Low: Overwhelmed, sometimes very depressed to the point where I want to die (but I always figure out that I'm low :) ), occasionally combative/resistant/angry
[quote user="SJohnson"]
I am a painter and when I am in pretty normal range, I produce a lot of work. When it is all over the place I find myself just pushing paint around unable to focus and basically creating a big mess. That's when I know my sugars are messed up and it creates a lot of anxiety. I am suppose to have work done by the latest , end of September for a group show. I am trying to stay positive, and that I will get it all done.
Does anyone have trouble being productive in work or school when Diabetes seems to be in the driver's seat?
[/quote]
When I'm low, I find it nearly impossible to get work of any kind done. When schoolwork becomes extremely overwhelming I always check because I know that I will be low. Practicing bassoon also becomes more difficult when my blood sugars are off. Recently, I was practicing at night and I started to fall asleep while playing. I ended up being 51, even though I just thought I was tired. Times like that are when I feel the most frustrated with diabetes.
Thanks, you put it quite well. I guess everyone here understands what I am talking about and I appreciate it very much. I am trying not to put pressure on myself otherwise nothing will get done and I will feel like giving up. Gosh, it just stinks sometimes doesn't it!