Is it me or my diabetes?

[Gwenmai]

Hi
I was just wondering if anyone struggles sometimes to understand if their characteristics or actions are due to themselves or their diabetes?

For instance, I've been suffering with nighttime lows and waking up low. It seems to mess me up for the whole day and I'm always missing work. Is that normal or is it the mindset the hypo puts me in?
I mean when I wake up low its worse than a day time hypo. I seem to sink into depression and can't pull my head together. I usually spend the rest of the day being angry at life, for having diabetes, for the Nah that just doesn't seem to care, the fact I get.no sick pay yet don't qualify for any help or benefits.

The examples are endless I'm sure you can think of your own. Even down to social reactions I always seem to find myself thinking would I have reacted that way if my sugars were in range?

Does this make any sense to anyone or am I just thinking too much into it?

 

[Geocacher]

It makes perfect sense.

My moods change depending on whether I'm low or high. Being aware of that means that I can alter my meals and medication to deal with that so that it doesn't affect my job or relationships.

See your GP and try to get a referral to a dietician who specialises in diabetes if you can. They may not have all the answers but they can provide helpful insight into how best to plan your meals to avoid problems. It's not always easy but I have found that keeping to certain habits helps, like spreading my meals through the day so that instead of three big meals I have several small meals - a light breakfast, half my sandwich about three hours later, fruit or veg or yoghurt at lunchtime, the rest of the sandwich mid afternoon, a light supper, and if I think I need it a small snack before bedtime -- something high in protein is best because it is less likely to cause a morning low.

Avoiding the highs and lows means that you can keep yourself in a better state of mind. To me, it's accepting rsponsibility for my diabetes in the same way that someone with a peanut allergy would avoid peanuts. It's just how I live with who I am.

 

[Hooked]

Night time lows leave me with what I call my diabetic hangover. I literally feel hungover the next day and just want to sleep. Blood sugars climbing high quickly leave me really snappy and in a bad mood. I have to remind myself to bite my tongue and that it's my sugar levels rather than other people that is really the problem.

I used to get giddy or get the giggles shortly before I'd go hypo when I was younger. Not any more though.

So yes, I say that sugar levels can def effect mood.

 

[Glen]

Hi Gwenmai.

My moods change with blood sugar level too. When high I feel angry and snappy, my mind stuck in brain fog, feeling sorry for myself. Trying not to let it get the better of me, but it does

A night time hypo will give me the hypo hangover, feel terrible for the whole of the next day. Combining a hypo hangover and a alcohol related hangover is a truly awful experience. To be avoided!

Get blood sugars normal and I feel great. Mind is clear, happy, sense of humour. Feel best at 3 to 4 range but just not practical.

 

[HelenLouise]

This reminds me of when I was younger (diagnosed type one at 13) , sometimes I got angry/stroppy normal teenage things, I used to get so annoyed then when people said maybe you should check your sugars. I felt like I wasn't entitled to being cross. This made me question , still does, if my behaviour is me or diabetes too.


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[Patch13]

My sugar levels affect my moods too! Although well controlled I can still get suddenly moody. This seems to happen if there is a change in my sugar levels all of a sudden. My husband usually knows when this is happening but I don't realise why I'm so moody and irrational till after I feel better (& then there is lots of apologising to do!)
If anyone suggests I check my sugars when I'm in this mood then I can't be held responsible for my actions ! Lol


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[Mrspuddle]

Oh the joys of apologising! I turn into an evil cow x


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[anteater2012]

Add in PMT to the mix and it is wonder that I have not been locked up some months!

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[Scarlet10]

Ha this is me! After a night time hypo I can barely function the next day. work colleagues stay away [POUTING FACE] and my poor husband if he breathes the wrong way thats it. my moods change almost as much as the weather, I can't help it even when I know I am being horrible. Diabetes has got a lot to answer for...,,.with me saying lots of apologies to my very patient caring family/friends [SMILING FACE WITH OPEN MOUTH AND SMILING EYES]



A Simple hi can make you smile

 

[Gwenmai]

Thanks for all your replies I feel a little more normal now I've got such erratic sugars everyday my moods all over the place. It's having a massive impact on my job and life. Awaiting pump therapy hopefully will mean I will have a consistent mood for more than an hour! Haha

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[Larablink]

Wow this really puts into words how I feel!do people sympathise? Or do you just feel like you're on your own kinda havin a rough day?also, anteater2012, that's true about pms!i wonder of diabetes heightens the symptoms??!