Severe anxiety and prediabetes

[gowest12]

hi I’ve been diagnosed last may with prediabetes and I already suffer severe anxiety and depression. My doctor has upped my dose of antidepressants which will take a while to work but in the meantime he has prescribed me propanolol to help with the anxiety which is causing me to have a fast heartbeat. I did ask him if it was ok to take this medication as a prediabetic and he said it doesn’t have any warnings for diabetics so he said I should take it to help with my anxiety. Anyone else suffer with anxiety and depression? Has anyone taken propanolol to help their anxiety? I was abit concerned as I’m sure I read somewhere that propanolol can raise blood sugars. This diagnosis has made things so much worse I don’t know what to do

 

[VashtiB]

Hello and welcome,

I also suffer from anxiety so I do sympathise with the additional stress that this diagnosis has caused you. I am not on any medication at all at the moment and don't know anything about the specific medication you are speaking about. However, my view is that as human beings our bodies and minds are very complex and so how we deal with different conditions is very individualised. We need to find a way of dealing with our various conditions that has a balance between everything and allows us to live as much as possible. This is fine in theory but much more difficult in practice-like most things .

My view is that when I am particularly anxious it affects my blood sugar levels significantly. So if the medication is helping you with your anxiety is is also probably helping you with your prediabeties. However, as I said I have no real knowledge of the medication itself.

My suggestions is that you obtain a meter and measure your blood sugar levels. I find it helps my anxiety to actually be able to measure the levels as I always imagine them worse than they are. If your levels have increased and you are confident that your diet hasn't changed it will allow you to discuss the levels with your doctor. If they haven't increased that may assist you in feeling less anxious about the medication.

I am sure that people with more knowledge will post shortly but as someone with anxiety as well I just wanted to respond so you know you are not alone.

Take care and good luck.

 

[gowest12]

Hello and welcome,

I also suffer from anxiety so I do sympathise with the additional stress that this diagnosis has caused you. I am not on any medication at all at the moment and don't know anything about the specific medication you are speaking about. However, my view is that as human beings our bodies and minds are very complex and so how we deal with different conditions is very individualised. We need to find a way of dealing with our various conditions that has a balance between everything and allows us to live as much as possible. This is fine in theory but much more difficult in practice-like most things .

My view is that when I am particularly anxious it affects my blood sugar levels significantly. So if the medication is helping you with your anxiety is is also probably helping you with your prediabeties. However, as I said I have no real knowledge of the medication itself.

My suggestions is that you obtain a meter and measure your blood sugar levels. I find it helps my anxiety to actually be able to measure the levels as I always imagine them worse than they are. If your levels have increased and you are confident that your diet hasn't changed it will allow you to discuss the levels with your doctor. If they haven't increased that may assist you in feeling less anxious about the medication.

I am sure that people with more knowledge will post shortly but as someone with anxiety as well I just wanted to respond so you know you are not alone.

Take care and good luck.

Thank you so much. I’ve suffered so many years with anxiety and this diagnosed has just pushed me over the edge. To think it’s a lifelong battle with food makes this really hard.

 

[lucylocket61]

Sending hugs. I also have anxiety and depression. Why do you see this as a lifelong struggle with food? I know depression can make things seem negative and hard

I went into a tailspin of anxiety after my diagnosis over 10 years ago, but with the advice, help and information from people on this forum I am far healthier than I was, I have a way of eating which I enjoy, and my lower blood sugar levels have improved my mental health a lot.

How can we help you? Keep asking questions of us.

 

[gowest12]

Sending hugs. I also have anxiety and depression. Why do you see this as a lifelong struggle with food? I know depression can make things seem negative and hard

I went into a tailspin of anxiety after my diagnosis over 10 years ago, but with the advice, help and information from people on this forum I am far healthier than I was, I have a way of eating which I enjoy, and my lower blood sugar levels have improved my mental health a lot.

How can we help you? Keep asking questions of us.

Thank you you are so kind. To me it seems like my life will always revolve around what I can and can’t eat. Like if I go to a wedding how can I enjoy anything??? What sort of food are you eating from what I understand we need to be very low carb which makes it mostly impossible to eat anywhere as nobody caters for low carb or diabetics.

 

[MrsA2]

To think it’s a lifelong battle with food makes this really hard.

Or thinking of it a different way...
It's giving your body what it needs, not filling it up with stuff it doesn't react well to
Also, did you know high sugar diets are proven to increase depression and anxiety. Cutting down on the carbs alott improves mood tremendously

 

[MrsA2]

Like if I go to a wedding how can I enjoy anything???

You go to weddings to celebrate and be social. A wedding without food would still be a celebration, but a wedding without people is nothing.
There are several strategies to help you get through. It's a shame that so much of our social lives is bound up with food, but if you start to concentrate on the occasion and the people you'll find the food rapidly becomes unimportant. You can either take soemthing of your own, or eat before going, or have a little of what's on offer. There are no rules on this, it's a matter of you finding a way that suits your body, for the rest of it's life.if that includes the odd deviation so be it, just watch carb creep.
And no rush, diabetes takes a long time to develop, and as long to reverse and keep under control. It's a marathon not a sprint

 

[gowest12]

You go to weddings to celebrate and be social. A wedding without food would still be a celebration, but a wedding without people is nothing.
There are several strategies to help you get through. It's a shame that so much of our social lives is bound up with food, but if you start to concentrate on the occasion and the people you'll find the food rapidly becomes unimportant. You can either take soemthing of your own, or eat before going, or have a little of what's on offer. There are no rules on this, it's a matter of you finding a way that suits your body, for the rest of it's life.if that includes the odd deviation so be it, just watch carb creep.
And no rush, diabetes takes a long time to develop, and as long to reverse and keep under control. It's a marathon not a sprint

It’s the first time I’m testing and this morning my fasting glucose was 6.5! Doesn’t that me diabetic already??? I thought with a hba1c of 43 my morning fasting would be lower.

 

[catinahat]

morning fasting would be lower.

For many of us the fasting test is often the highest we get all day.
As your body gets ready to start the day your liver can release some of its stored glucose, I suppose the idea is to give us a little energy to help us to get going. It happens to everyone, but people with pre or T2 have trouble using that extra glucose so it hangs around in our blood.
I haven't done a fasting test for years, my liver is going to whatever it needs to do, I can do nothing to stop it doing its job.
With your anxiety and depression I suggest it would be better if you just use your meter to test around your meals.

 

[NicoleC1971]

I imagine that there is no point telling an anxious person to keep calm so I won't.
Your anxiety/depression isn't all of you and perhaps there are up sides e.g. you are likely to be really empathetic with people who suffer emotionally (takes one to know one) and to be careful about how you treat your body.
The good thing about your diabetes is that you now know and can be much more in control of your own body. The biggest impact on this will be what you eat and NOT any pill your GP gives you (I think this is the case for your mental health too btw). Just eating better and feeling in control of your own health could be great for you provided you don't get overwhelmed by those panicky thoughts about choices.
Every choice is a chance to do a little better but you also have the choice to eat badly (at that wedding) and then get back to the 80% eating well regime. You have time to make mistakes and your meter will show you that but don't over test as it won't be helpful . Maybe fasting bg and a couple of hours after a meal to see if the bg gets back into the 4-7 normal range. If it doesn't then see what foods caused it to stay high for longer? Or are you extra stressed, tired or coming down with something? Enjoy the learning process and take ownership for making things better for yourself.

 

[gowest12]

It’s the first time I’m testing and this morning my fasting glucose was 6.5! Doesn’t that me diabetic already??? I thought with a hba1c of 43 my morning fasting would be lower.

Does it take prediabetes years to develop

For many of us the fasting test is often the highest we get all day.
As your body gets ready to start the day your liver can release some of its stored glucose, I suppose the idea is to give us a little energy to help us to get going. It happens to everyone, but people with pre or T2 have trouble using that extra glucose so it hangs around in our blood.
I haven't done a fasting test for years, my liver is going to whatever it needs to do, I can do nothing to stop it doing its job.
With your anxiety and depression I suggest it would be better if you just use your meter to test around your meals.

Thank you for your reply. I think you’re right I will leave the fasting one or it will drive me mad!!! When is the best time to test for meals? About 2 hours after?

I imagine that there is no point telling an anxious person to keep calm so I won't.
Your anxiety/depression isn't all of you and perhaps there are up sides e.g. you are likely to be really empathetic with people who suffer emotionally (takes one to know one) and to be careful about how you treat your body.
The good thing about your diabetes is that you now know and can be much more in control of your own body. The biggest impact on this will be what you eat and NOT any pill your GP gives you (I think this is the case for your mental health too btw). Just eating better and feeling in control of your own health could be great for you provided you don't get overwhelmed by those panicky thoughts about choices.
Every choice is a chance to do a little better but you also have the choice to eat badly (at that wedding) and then get back to the 80% eating well regime. You have time to make mistakes and your meter will show you that but don't over test as it won't be helpful . Maybe fasting bg and a couple of hours after a meal to see if the bg gets back into the 4-7 normal range. If it doesn't then see what foods caused it to stay high for longer? Or are you extra stressed, tired or coming down with something? Enjoy the learning process and take ownership for making things better for yourself.

after 2 hours should it be below 7.8 or 7?

 

[gowest12]

I imagine that there is no point telling an anxious person to keep calm so I won't.
Your anxiety/depression isn't all of you and perhaps there are up sides e.g. you are likely to be really empathetic with people who suffer emotionally (takes one to know one) and to be careful about how you treat your body.
The good thing about your diabetes is that you now know and can be much more in control of your own body. The biggest impact on this will be what you eat and NOT any pill your GP gives you (I think this is the case for your mental health too btw). Just eating better and feeling in control of your own health could be great for you provided you don't get overwhelmed by those panicky thoughts about choices.
Every choice is a chance to do a little better but you also have the choice to eat badly (at that wedding) and then get back to the 80% eating well regime. You have time to make mistakes and your meter will show you that but don't over test as it won't be helpful . Maybe fasting bg and a couple of hours after a meal to see if the bg gets back into the 4-7 normal range. If it doesn't then see what foods caused it to stay high for longer? Or are you extra stressed, tired or coming down with something? Enjoy the learning process and take ownership for making things better for yourself.

But I just feel like I won’t be able to control any of this with my anxiety and depression if they elevate blood sugars i may as well give up right now

 

[lucylocket61]

Take a deep breath. The anxiety meds may raise your blood sugar levels slightly BUT the reduced anxiety will lower your blood sugar levels, so they may well cancel out each other. Plus, you will feel better on the meds.

 

[gowest12]

You go to weddings to celebrate and be social. A wedding without food would still be a celebration, but a wedding without people is nothing.
There are several strategies to help you get through. It's a shame that so much of our social lives is bound up with food, but if you start to concentrate on the occasion and the people you'll find the food rapidly becomes unimportant. You can either take soemthing of your own, or eat before going, or have a little of what's on offer. There are no rules on this, it's a matter of you finding a way that suits your body, for the rest of it's life.if that includes the odd deviation so be it, just watch carb creep.
And no rush, diabetes takes a long time to develop, and as long to reverse and keep under control. It's a marathon not a sprint

What is carb creep??

 

[gowest12]

Take a deep breath. The anxiety meds may raise your blood sugar levels slightly BUT the reduced anxiety will lower your blood sugar levels, so they may well cancel out each other. Plus, you will feel better on the meds.

Thank you. Can I just ask how low carb should we be? Because from the few tests I have done I think most carbs including lentils raise my blood sugar is that normal?

 

[catinahat]

should it be below 7.8 or 7?

Don't get too caught up in the numbers, worrying about what it should be or if it's higher or lower than other people's levels will only fuel your anxiety.
Our sugar levels change throughout the day, obviously food will have an impact but so will many other things like exercise, housework, medication and of course stress and anxiety. So worrying because your level is 1 or 2 mmol above what you or Dr Google thinks it should be is really counter productive.
All you need to be interested in is the difference between your pre meal level and the 2hr post meal level.
So just before you start eating measure your blood sugar and note it down.
Around 2hrs after your meal, take another reading. If the second reading is within 2mmol of the first one, then that meal didn't cause you any problems. If on the other hand the second level was more than 2mmol higher than the first then there were too many carbs in that meal and you need to see if maybe next time you can cut a few carbs out.
The main thing you need to bear in mind is that our meters are not as accurate as we would like
(plus or minus 15%) and occasionally you can get a dodgy strip that gives a wildly inaccurate reading, sometimes it possible that something on our fingers can contaminate the test and give a false reading.
The meters are a really useful tool for helping us to design our diets but it's not worth stressing over the results they give.

 

[Lainie71]

Thank you so much. I’ve suffered so many years with anxiety and this diagnosed has just pushed me over the edge. To think it’s a lifelong battle with food makes this really hard.

Hi I have anxiety and depression too but I think I have worn my anxiety t shirt out with my worry over the years! I felt very miffed that other people I knew could just eat what they wanted and they probably wouldn't get type 2 but half the time people go around not even realising that they are type 2 oblivious until a radon test at the GP surgery flags it up! I still worry about the implications of my diagnosis every creek, headache, rash and all other things that most probably are not related to diabetes but it doesn't stop me from being a worry wort! I think it does get easier when the bg levels stabilize. Just test before meals and after as suggested. I got so hung up on it all in the beginning I would stare are the fridge, cupboards and used to literally cry for hours as there was so much I thought I couldn't eat and I was so hungry!! That's not the case now! It will get easier. Your metre will tell you what you can and cannot cope with. I kept a daily diary and listed all the stuff I ate, what spiked me, all the readings and what I was okay with. I look back now at the notes and its very informative. I still have to watch it as many of us here have to. Who would have thought that my diagnosis has probably helped me change my lifestyle for the better. You will get there xx

 

[MrsA2]

The meters are a really useful tool for helping us to design our diets but it's not worth stressing over the results they give.

@gowest12
I attach a cgm reading of mine, but first a bit of explanation. I was already low carb and "in remission " when it was taken.
I am happy if I stay within the green most days. I don't fuss or fret over the ups and downs within it. I also don't fuss or fret if I go over, I treat each over as a learning experience, which I can can learn from or repeat, it's my choice.

Beware that the reason most doctors give for not prescribing testing is that it can be too anxiety making, especially for some anxious or data driven people. Other people find testing informative and useful. Only you know what it may be to you.

On the day in question I had had a normal (for me) breakfast and lunch. Then about 4pm I had a phone call about a vulnerable relative in police custody. I had to leave to go to his aid immediately. I knew there would be little chance of food, and no chance of low carb food, so I looked upon it as a positive fasting experience. I had no food until the following morning.

Note the spikes due to stress at 4 pm. 6 pm and 11pm, rising until 1 am. My bg only started dropping when I got "released" and headed home about 4 am.
I repeat, I had no food at all in this time.

This is just an example of how things other than food affect me. A graph of you in similar circumstances may well be very different. Indeed a graph of me in similar circumstances may well be different next time.

I just show this to you as you are at the very early stages of learning, and of trying to manage your own diabetes and your own body. What you do now may well need to be different in the future as your body changes and adapts.

I show it to you to illustrate how up and down, how unpredictable our bodies can be, and how it really isn't worth stressing about every up or every down but just to be "good enough, mostly "

You are at the very beginning of your own learning journey. There will be ups. There will be downs. There will be unexplainable things. There will always be support here.

 

[gowest12]

Don't get too caught up in the numbers, worrying about what it should be or if it's higher or lower than other people's levels will only fuel your anxiety.
Our sugar levels change throughout the day, obviously food will have an impact but so will many other things like exercise, housework, medication and of course stress and anxiety. So worrying because your level is 1 or 2 mmol above what you or Dr Google thinks it should be is really counter productive.
All you need to be interested in is the difference between your pre meal level and the 2hr post meal level.
So just before you start eating measure your blood sugar and note it down.
Around 2hrs after your meal, take another reading. If the second reading is within 2mmol of the first one, then that meal didn't cause you any problems. If on the other hand the second level was more than 2mmol higher than the first then there were too many carbs in that meal and you need to see if maybe next time you can cut a few carbs out.
The main thing you need to bear in mind is that our meters are not as accurate as we would like
(plus or minus 15%) and occasionally you can get a dodgy strip that gives a wildly inaccurate reading, sometimes it possible that something on our fingers can contaminate the test and give a false reading.
The meters are a really useful tool for helping us to design our diets but it's not worth stressing over the results they give.

My doctor doesn’t recommend testing because of my anxiety he said to leave it and he will retest in 3 months

 

[gowest12]

@gowest12
I attach a cgm reading of mine, but first a bit of explanation. I was already low carb and "in remission " when it was taken.
I am happy if I stay within the green most days. I don't fuss or fret over the ups and downs within it. I also don't fuss or fret if I go over, I treat each over as a learning experience, which I can can learn from or repeat, it's my choice.

Beware that the reason most doctors give for not prescribing testing is that it can be too anxiety making, especially for some anxious or data driven people. Other people find testing informative and useful. Only you know what it may be to you.

On the day in question I had had a normal (for me) breakfast and lunch. Then about 4pm I had a phone call about a vulnerable relative in police custody. I had to leave to go to his aid immediately. I knew there would be little chance of food, and no chance of low carb food, so I looked upon it as a positive fasting experience. I had no food until the following morning.

Note the spikes due to stress at 4 pm. 6 pm and 11pm, rising until 1 am. My bg only started dropping when I got "released" and headed home about 4 am.
I repeat, I had no food at all in this time.

This is just an example of how things other than food affect me. A graph of you in similar circumstances may well be very different. Indeed a graph of me in similar circumstances may well be different next time.

I just show this to you as you are at the very early stages of learning, and of trying to manage your own diabetes and your own body. What you do now may well need to be different in the future as your body changes and adapts.

I show it to you to illustrate how up and down, how unpredictable our bodies can be, and how it really isn't worth stressing about every up or every down but just to be "good enough, mostly "

You are at the very beginning of your own learning journey. There will be ups. There will be downs. There will be unexplainable things. There will always be support here.

I’m just scared I can’t cope with this diagnosis as I feel my life is over already with the anxiety. Do other people with bad anxiety cope it seems to me we are doomed