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Jul 16, 2024 · In the same way diabetes can damage nerves in other parts of your body, it can damage nerves in your brain. Diabetes can damage blood vessels in the brain and cause a stroke or memory loss. This can lead to problems with memory and learning, mood shifts, weight gain, and hormonal changes. Over time, it can also lead to other serious problems ...
- Overview
- Mood swings and diabetes
- Stress and diabetes
- Mental health and diabetes
- Tips for coping
- How to help someone cope
- When to see a doctor
- The bottom line
People with diabetes may experience mood swings due to blood sugar levels, stress, or a mental health condition.
You may think diabetes just affects your pancreas, but living with this condition often affects your mood and mental health too. For one, you may experience mood swings when your blood glucose levels are too high or low. Stress, depression, and anxiety can also crop up.
Managing diabetes on a daily basis can sometimes feel overwhelming, so it’s important to check in on your emotional well-being every once in a while.
One way to regulate your mood is to understand and follow your diabetes management plan. This will help smooth out the highs and lows in your blood glucose, which can cause mood swings.
Feeling a range of highs and lows is not uncommon if you have diabetes. Your blood sugar impacts how you feel and can contribute to mood swings. Poor management of blood glucose can lead to negative moods and a lower quality of life.
How do you know if you have low or high blood glucose? Your diabetes management plan should involve frequent blood sugar readings to help you manage the condition.
According to the American Diabetes Association, your target range for your blood sugar can vary from person to person. Generally, target ranges are:
•80 to 130 milligrams per deciliter (ml/dl) before you eat a meal
•180 ml/dl or lower a few hours after eating a meal
Numbers below or above your target range could be the source of changing moods.
The stress of a diabetes diagnosis, and the stress of managing diabetes over time, can lead to feelings of being overwhelmed and diabetes burnout. Some reasons you may feel stressed include:
•You may not be feeling well physically.
•You may be concerned about the management plan, including the daily regimen, lifestyle modifications, and costs.
•You may feel overwhelmed about lifelong treatment.
•You may be exhausted from maintaining your management plan.
Stress can affect diabetes negatively. Stress that lasts for many weeks or months can lead to unstable glucose levels. Your blood glucose levels can rise, and sometimes fall, with stress. These fluctuations can alter your overall mood.
You may be at risk of developing a mental health condition if you have diabetes. Anxiety is common in people with diabetes, especially women. Between 30 to 40 percent of those with diabetes report having anxiety.
Up to 1 in 4 people with diabetes have depression. Women are more prone to depression with diabetes than men.
Some symptoms of depression include:
•anger
•anxiety
•low quality of life
Follow your diabetes treatment plan
The plan provided by your doctor likely includes daily medications, blood glucose screenings, and lifestyle adjustments.
Check your blood sugar regularly
Watch for high and low readings. Record unusual readings to communicate to your doctor if needed. Try methods to elevate or lower your blood sugar if your readings are outside of an expected zone.
Automate your plan
Put a timer on your smartphone that indicates when to take medications or check your blood sugar. This way, you can avoid forgetting important parts of your plan and keep your blood sugar steady.
Children and teens
Children and teens with diabetes need support and guidance from loved ones to stick to their management plans. Make sure to serve them healthy foods, support them in athletic endeavors, and take them to regular doctor’s appointments. Watch for changes in mood or for signs of stress or depression, and help them seek resources to manage these conditions.
Adults
Adults with diabetes also need your help. You may be able to tell a loved one when their mood seems off and suggest they check their blood sugar. You may also be able to plan healthy meals or even exercise with them. Talk to your friend or loved one about their condition and listen to what they have to say. Encourage them to seek professional help if you notice they’re slipping from their diabetes management plan or if you observe changes to their mental health.
There are several reasons to see a doctor about mood issues, stress, or depression if you have diabetes. Some of these include:
•if you are having trouble managing your blood sugar
•if your moods fluctuate regularly
•if you have lost interest in daily activities
•if you can’t stick to your diabetes management plan
•if you feel sad or hopeless
It’s common to encounter mood swings, stress, or even depression if you have diabetes. To reduce the chances of experiencing these mental health conditions, maintain your management plan and keep your blood sugar in a healthy range.
Never hesitate to reach out to family, friends, or a mental health professional to discuss your mental health or to get help with your diabetes treatment.
- Natalie Silver
Feb 21, 2020 · The bottom line. Brain fog with diabetes can have a tremendous impact on your outlook and interfere with the quality of your life. Memory problems, mood swings, and decreased concentration can ...
- Valencia Higuera
Jan 12, 2022 · Two little-known but common effects of diabetes are irrational behavior and mental confusion. Diabetes impacts not only physical and mental health but behavioral health, too. The reasons for this are the hormone insulin and the levels of glucose, or sugar, in the bloodstream. Glucose powers the brain and is the force behind all of its functioning.
Apr 28, 2023 · Summary. Managing diabetes can be stressful, and variations in blood sugar levels may also contribute to mood changes. These factors may place a strain on relationships. Diabetes impairs the body ...
Diabetes mellitus is associated with decrements in cognitive function and changes in brain structure. People with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes have been shown to have mild to moderate reductions in cognitive function as measured by neuropsychological testing compared to non-diabetic controls. Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) has also been associated ...
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Oct 21, 2019 · A growing body of evidence suggests a relationship between mood and blood-sugar, or glycemic, highs and lows. Symptoms of poor glycemic regulation have been shown to closely mirror mental health symptoms, such as irritability, anxiety, and worry. This should come as no surprise, as the brain runs primarily on glucose.
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