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Carb withdrawal = Extreme irritability?

Tron2112

Tron2112

Well-Known Member
Messages
61
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Since I was diagnosed with Type 2 mid-January this year, I have been extremely emotional - sometimes sad and tearful, but mostly extremely irritable. I know when I'm being prickly toward my husband and cat, but realising that I'm being mean pisses me off even more so I become more prickly instead of calming down. Poor Ron, it's like I have PMT all the time.

Pre-diagnosis, a normal day would see me downing at least 1 can of full sugar cola, sometimes 2, some chocolate or cake or all three. Started off the day with a carbohydrate loaded breakfast cereal with a handful of sugar chucked in. Whole grain bread sandwich for lunch, crisps, generous helpings of pasta or rice or potato with dinner. And on weekends a gallon of lager. My sugars must have been in the skies!

I don't have rose coloured glasses longing for those days when I was in denial about the effect my consumption was having on my health. I was often bloated, depressed at my size 24 clothes getting snug, suffering from reflux at night. And yet I don't remember being so angry and short-fused all the time like I am now.

I've cut back on the carbs since diagnosis. Averaging about 120g per day - I know that's on the high side for some of you. But for me it's a drastic cut. I've lost about a stone and certainly feel pleased about losing volume in my belly from fat loss and bloat reduction. But I'm still so f-ing angry all the time.

Anyone else get this when new to diabetes and carb cutting? Does it end?




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I'd be interested to know if it is common to feel like this as I've been the same the past few weeks since cutting the carbs however I thought it was just due to a virus I've had since the end of November which makes me feel exceedingly dizzy at times which I find so frustrating (affects my work, driving, walking etc)

I too had a fairly high carb diet with lots of pasta and rice which I have cut right back on and switched to wholemeal. I'm on about 120g a day now too, sometimes lower but like you I must have been sending the sugars sky high on my old diet. :crazy:

OH would like to know if it passes too!
 
It took me about 4 weeks to stabilise on a much lower carb diet than I was used to. I also have around 120g of carbs a day. I found it helps to space my carb intake out over several small meal/snacks every 4 hours. And to make sure I am eating enough calories too. If I drop too far, less than 1500 cals a day, I get tearful and irritable again.

I have been doing this for a year now.
 
No doubt about it - cutting out carbs has the temporary effect of turning you into a grizzly monster!

No doubt in my mind!
 
I was fine transitioning to low carbs apart from being a bit fatigued for a week or two. My sister who did it at the same time (and isn't diabetic) had a few nasty headaches and PMT levels of irritability spiked with rage! But it passed as well after a few weeks and she feels better than ever!


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Thanks guys, I'm starting to turn the corner now I think. I just pulled my first reading that was less than 5 (4.9) and I feel really excited that I'm seeing a big change so soon. I'm still irritable, I frightened the cat this morning when I spat out an expletive after dropping my omelette on the floor. But that was just normal PMT clumsiness and crankiness. My sense of humour is coming back and my interest in conjugal activities. :)

My theory is that the irritability was caused by two factors - depression after diagnosis and sugar withdrawal. Sugar consumption activates the pleasure centres in the brain. I no longer have all that stimulation so I'm experiencing life without the chemical boost that I got from sugar.

Oh and beer too - I was more of a weekend warrior, but I could match round for round pints with the blokes on a night out. Life without beer to soften the edges is irritating! The thought of not drinking for the rest of my life is depressing! It's a vicious cycle! :D


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I would say that I can be very moody if I'm disappointed in my blood sugars. If I get a really good reading then I'm on a complete high; if its bad then I can get very sullen about it and definitely would come across as moody to my husband. Similar with weight loss, if the scales have been the same for a few days then I'm grumpy and ratty.

I don't think this is low carb related though - in myself I feel a million percent better, I'm like a totally different person. Like you two, I was probably in the 300-400g plus per day region.


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It's not just me then. Having got my sugars under control I couldn't stop meddling with the menu and consumed less carbs.

I like the word "Prickly" that OP used and I can report that I have been prickly for about two weeks now. I have babbled a bit as well.

The embarrassing bit was when I bought a laser leveller to use on a job in the garden. The hired help looked at it and figured it all out in about two minutes. I had not had that much success with it in the 24 hours it's been here.

This proves that I babble well but the brain is not engaged. Chips for lunch I think.
 
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