Diabetes and anxiety

Hey @abigailsheree So sorry you feel like this, I am not surprised you are feeling the way you do, it's not just a battle for winning on your diabetes but it's also trying to win with your support too.

I do feel that your DSN has let you down here, they are supposed to support you and questioning why you went to her is not something to question. It would be worth a call/letter to your Diabetic team who your DSN reports into to question them over this behaviour. Valid points to consider are that your quality of life is compromised because of your fear/anxieties over hypos and that no support has been offered to , and to also question her advice in running high, this is not something you could maintain short or long term and could affect your future health. Also advise them that this experience has made you feel terrible and so the quality of care has been totally unacceptable to make you feel this way.

I do hear of others who have experienced anxieties with hypos and you should be supported to help improve - so ideally access to a CGM which would help allay your fears over running low would be a great outcome - maybe push for this ?

Sending you a hig hug - I know it's not easy even with this additional fear x

I'll assume you're trying to run your BG as low as possible, but why if it is causing you this much grief? I'm sure the DSN meant to run them just slightly higher and not HIGH (I hope so anyway!). You don't mention what your usual numbers are like, or if you have hypo warning signs, or if you always carry jelly babies or glucotabs with you? If you're having a lot of hypos then something needs to be done with your dosages. I know, all easier said than done and once something gets in your mind it's difficult to over come!

- the only time I worry is when I'm out walking the dog in the middle of nowhere literally miles from anywhere and I then realize I refilled my glucotab tube up and left it on the side, but then I think hang on I did the same walk yesterday or the entire last week with out needing them so why worry I know my BG was x mmol before walking....I'm feeling fine.....not an issue.

I can relate to this so much. I am Ok if I am in a controlled environment eg at home perhaps at work where I can always have access to some instant sugar, eg Lucozade

Sometimes when I am in crowded place like a shopping centre I can feel myself experiencing what I think are hypo symptoms and yet I know my BS are fine. Once I get it into my head that I think I have a low BS, I then start to panic.

Luckily enough I now carry my blood meter virtually everywhere I go which helps at least reassure me. Having been type 1 for over 35 years I do wonder how I coped when I was younger without a blood meter. I fimd myself becoming evermore relaint on this nowadays

I do like to go walking and do some birdwatching, which usually means I can be in some fairly remote places an usually alone. I have seen me out in the Outer Hebrides not seeing anyone for hours then starting to feel low and panic sets in. And yet I will test my blood and this will be sitting at over 10. I have had a few very low sugars over the years in the middle og no where but with my trust bars of chocolate and lucozade i have always made it through

Its a strange thing the mind

I'm not T1, but have had lots of experience with hypos and anxiety.
Anxiety can be a symptom of fluctuating blood glucose levels and experiencing hypoglycaemic episodes.
It is not nice to be in the state of questioning every decision you make and second guessing what might happen if you do this or do that.
You need to find someone who understands anxiety and talk to them.
Preferably someone who is experienced in the treatment of anxiety.
Your GP/dsn or clinic should help you with this.

As I said, anxiety can be a symptom, the cause is reduced glucose to the brain, other hormones play a part, it is caused by low bloods or excessive insulin, this occurs when you hypo.

I have really good control now, in ketosis, and my anxiety issues have all but gone.

Getting your insulin as a T1 as correct as possible and being in good control to stay above or in normal levels will help ease the anxiety, wether it completely abates is wether it is a symptom or not!

But you do need to get someone to help you!

Best wishes, hope this helps.

abigailsheree said:

Hopefully I can speak to my gp about it as I am always worried I nearly fractured my skull damaged my knee had stitches and scars from cutting my hands on bowls and hit my face on the pavement it's just a constant worry and sometimes i don't talk to the gp as you don't want to waste their time

Click to expand...

It's not wasting their time.

Could you try something like doing a very brief walk to,start with? Literally a few minutes. Test right before you walk out the door, take your meter with you and glucose.

Anxiety about hypos is not uncommon. They can be terrifying.

Do you have a consulatant @abigailsheree rather than just a GP? I would push for some a) diabetic specific councilling (I've had some through a self referal) and B) access to a CGM as JuicyJ said.

abigailsheree said:

I have in the past but when I moved it hasn't gone well at all but I think your right i don't know if you ever had the experience but the nurse here can make you feel like your over reacting and it's easy dealing with diabetes

Click to expand...

You have to stand your corner, ignore her, she is not helping and you won't be a nuisance. You do make an appointment and tell him the non advice you've had and push for what you think is right for you.
I know it will be hard but he is supposed to be your health carer and get a referral, you need one!
A step like this will prove to be so good for you!

I know, I was misdiagnosed for many years, the surgery didn't have a clue, GPs/dsns, even a specialist, I battled through my hypo hell, to get a referral. Eventually I demanded one and got myself sorted. I was at my wits end, I just wanted to lock myself away and use my anger and confusion on no one else!
The benefits of being diagnosed and using the correct treatment for the condition you have, is really worth the hassle you think your causing (you're not!)
Best wishes.

finially i know that im not the only one that is suffering with my anxietys about having low blood suger readings, i was diagnosed 3 years ago with type 2 weighing over 29 stone and was on the list for bariatric surgery but because of suffering from agrophobia and health and socal phobia i knew that obviously i would have to leave the house which for many reasons petrified me but i knew i would have to leave the house many times, so the only other option was to try and lose the weight myself and so surprisingly i have lost ten stone and my diabeties seems to have reversed itselve but due to that my dlood suger readings have dropped to between 6 and 9 and im constantly checking my BS as im petrified of having a hypo to the point where i will have 3 or 4 glucose tablets to boost my BS up but they dont actually work so i then have something like toast to get them up but once again it doesnt by this time im shaking with panc and sweat is pouring off me, i forgot to meantion earlier in this post that i stopped taking all my diabetic medication of my own accord 3 weeks ago because i fear that if i was still taking it i would definatly have a hypo, im at my wits end guys and would apreciate any advice and info please...thakyou in advance katie xx

missevo75 said:

finially i know that im not the only one that is suffering with my anxietys about having low blood suger readings, i was diagnosed 3 years ago with type 2 weighing over 29 stone and was on the list for bariatric surgery but because of suffering from agrophobia and health and socal phobia i knew that obviously i would have to leave the house which for many reasons petrified me but i knew i would have to leave the house many times, so the only other option was to try and lose the weight myself and so surprisingly i have lost ten stone and my diabeties seems to have reversed itselve but due to that my dlood suger readings have dropped to between 6 and 9 and im constantly checking my BS as im petrified of having a hypo to the point where i will have 3 or 4 glucose tablets to boost my BS up but they dont actually work so i then have something like toast to get them up but once again it doesnt by this time im shaking with panc and sweat is pouring off me, i forgot to meantion earlier in this post that i stopped taking all my diabetic medication of my own accord 3 weeks ago because i fear that if i was still taking it i would definatly have a hypo, im at my wits end guys and would apreciate any advice and info please...thakyou in advance katie xx

Click to expand...

To be honest MissEvo, firstly, can I just say a 10st weight loss is absolutely amazing! That's quite a result and an absolute testimony to your determination to improve your lot. Do you, generally, feel better being a bit lighter? Are you trying to lose more, or are you content with the weight you have now?

Moving onto the rest of your post; a classic hypo is usually considered as under 4, but for diabetics not taking any medication, or just taking something like Metformin, 4 is less critical. I don't take any medication, and I can go lower than 4 without feeling poorly, and still with good energy levels etc, so it just goes to demonstrate how different we all are, and how we can react or feel with lower numbers.

At a level of between 6 and 9, you aren't close to a clinical hypo, but you clearly seem to be having symptoms. Could it be those feelings are a bit like a panic attack or anxiety peak?

It sounds like you test, routinely, which is great. What sort of numbers do your finger prick tests show? If you could share that with us, it might give us a few more ideas of things you might like to consider to help yourself.

We're not Doctors on here, MissEvo, so we can't diagnose anything or instruct you what to do, but what we can do is share our own experiences and what might or might not have worked for us along the way.

Again, it sounds like you have made fabulous progress so far, and it could be you're getting to the fine tuning elements of your diabetes self-management.

Who supports you in your care if you're not great at getting out and about? Do you have HCPs come to visit you, or is that something you go out for?

abigailsheree said:

Every since I won't leave my house by myself in fear that if anything happens no one will be around to help. I tried explaining this to my diabetic nurse and not only did she say I shouldn't be worried about testing ketones at all but that i explained my anxiety and her advise was well just run it high

Click to expand...

Exact same thing is happening to me. I'm just 3 years older than you. Basically the prisoner of my own home whereas a few years ago I was travelling the world and living life to the fullest. If only researchers would put as much emphasis onto treating/preventing hypos as treating hypers, then lots of us could get our lives back. Maybe we could connect and share what works for us? I know very well how lonely does this make one feel. You are not alone in this.

I'm the same age of you and been D about the same amount of time and feel you. I've been there. I'd look up hypounawareness and look for tips from that standpoint. There is plenty out there. I get bored out my skull watching the same info on it go around on the monitor at clinic! Seriously though I have chronic dawn phenomenon and brittle diabetes and for years I felt I couldn't leave the house without my diabetes freaking out too. (I also have full on anxiety disorder so that didn't help). I would speak to your GP about your anxiety as this is not simply a diabetic thing. Diabetes may be the trigger but the Dr may be able to help you in other ways to feel better in yourself whether that is just listening, referring you for some sort of outside therapy or even medication.

I wouldn't leave the house without my testing kit, lucozade, carbs, you name it. It took over my life. So I don't want you to feel it is as simple as 'getting it together' or just doing X or Y as others have suggested. Once anxiety takes hold it stops being a simple problem so there is no simple solution. You CAN overcome it though.

I spoke to the diabetic team's psychiatric nurse. I don't know if you have that facility available to you. I also ended up with a dog who without training alerts to my hypos so he helped a lot. I'm not saying go get a pet right this moment but don't think you need to cope with all of this by yourself? I'm not overly comfortable spilling my guts on this page but feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

Juicyj said:

Hey @abigailsheree So sorry you feel like this, I am not surprised you are feeling the way you do, it's not just a battle for winning on your diabetes but it's also trying to win with your support too.

I do feel that your DSN has let you down here, they are supposed to support you and questioning why you went to her is not something to question. It would be worth a call/letter to your Diabetic team who your DSN reports into to question them over this behaviour. Valid points to consider are that your quality of life is compromised because of your fear/anxieties over hypos and that no support has been offered to , and to also question her advice in running high, this is not something you could maintain short or long term and could affect your future health. Also advise them that this experience has made you feel terrible and so the quality of care has been totally unacceptable to make you feel this way.

I do hear of others who have experienced anxieties with hypos and you should be supported to help improve - so ideally access to a CGM which would help allay your fears over running low would be a great outcome - maybe push for this ?

Sending you a hig hug - I know it's not easy even with this additional fear x

Click to expand...

Big hugs too I understand fully where you are coming from. My readings are very erratic at the moment with lots of lows and highs. I am getting to the point where I don't want to go out for fear of something 'bad' happening. Hope you can get some help and support soon xx