Study Shows Diabetes May Cause Mood Swings

Have you been diagnosed with diabetes type 1 or type 2? According to a recent study published in the journal Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics, diabetes may affect your emotions in the same way that your emotions may cause a change in blood sugar levels.

News of diabetes affecting people’s emotions is nothing new. Studies in the past have shown that type 2 diabetes may be linked to depression. In recent studies, researchers have also found that people with type 1 diabetes who experience long periods of high blood sugar levels may produce a hormone linked to depression. 

Now it appears that mood swings aren’t far behind, either. Patients with low blood sugar levels or hypoglycemia may become irritable and defensive. Those with high blood sugar levels or hyperglycemia, on the other hand, may become just as  grouchy. They may also be less likely to find focus. For diabetics, insufficient insulin may cause a negative physiological change. Without insulin, glucose can't get into the body's cells and instead simply becomes pent-up sugar.

"Diabetes gives you so much to worry about that it's exhausting. It can make you feel powerless,” Joe Solowiejczyk, a certified diabetes educator and a manager of diabetes counseling and training at the Johnson & Johnson Diabetes Institute in Milpitas, California, tells HealthDay.com. "I think it's important to acknowledge that, from time to time, you're going to have a meltdown. You're going to have days when you feel exasperated, frustrated, sad, in denial, and physically exhausted."

Solowiejczyk suggests that if you're diabetic and you keep experiencing erratic mood swings, it’s best to consult your doctor.


(Photo by Jerry Bunkers via Flickr Creative Commons)