There are many reasons why diabetic mood swings occur. Changes in diet, medications, low or high blood sugar levels, and the stress of having the disease are all reasons why diabetic mood swings may happen. A diabetic may not even be aware that they are acting out in this manner, and meanwhile their unpredictable behavior is alienating them from family members, friends and close associates.
One of them major symptoms of type 1 diabetes is irritability. The reason for this is because of the imbalance of blood sugar levels, often swinging from high to low. For the most part, however the major culprit is low blood sugar. Children in particular get short tempered. Furthermore, if they have low blood sugar at school they may seem cranky, withdrawn, or may not answer questions correctly because of the subtle confusion brought about by diabetes. UPMC.com provides a good example of this:
A mother was “alarmed to receive a midterm progress report of failing grades for her son – who had previously been an honor student- she arranged a teacher conference. She was astonished to learn that the science teacher perceived her son as passively rebellious and a daydreamer. It turns out that her son was embarrassed to request early dismissal from midmorning class to have time for his snack. By the time he reached science class (right before lunch), his blood glucose levels fell dangerously low, causing him to become confused and disoriented.”
A 2006 study indicated that diabetic men tend to have diabetic mood swings. This is especially true in advanced ages, as a man’s testosterone levels begin to decline. Women seem to have more of a problem in adult onset, because they tend to feel like it could have been prevented if they had made changes in their lifestyle beforehand. Both men and women who suffer from diabetes often feel anxiety, anger, remorse or guilt. Depression also often occurs among diabetics.
Fixing Diabetic Mood Swings with Exercise
Exercise is an extremely effective way to begin taking control of your diabetic mood swings. The reason is that it a person’s blood sugar level has a direct relation to their mood. Regular exercise helps a person’s blood sugar levels to stabilize more and more overtime. With the stabilization of the blood sugar, moods stabilize as well. Also, exercise is a good way to release stress. So, if you feel anxious, depressed, angry, or stressed it can be countered with exercise. Be careful, however, because if your blood sugar drops to low it can be dangerous. Be sure to always have a snack or sugar pill with you, and drink a lot of water.
