Hypoglycemia and anxiety

[Erin]

Has anyone experienced an increase in anxiety (and tremors) when their insulin dose is higher?

 

[Antje77]

Has anyone experienced an increase in anxiety (and tremors) when their insulin dose is higher?

Do you mean increased anxiety from higher doses of insulin alone, or increased anxiety because you're having hypos from the increased dose?

 

[Erin]

Do you mean increased anxiety from higher doses of insulin alone, or increased anxiety because you're having hypos from the increased dose?

I am guessing that it is the insulin dose. But, the insulin dose may cause hypoglycemia. My meter numbers do not show low numbers though on average (nothing lower than 5ish). Nonetheless, if the insulin is higher, AND the number is lower, anxiety and tremor increase. I seem more comfortable at 10, with an insulin unit at 10-12, and no glyclazide with Metformin. This is new. I am beginning to wonder if I am diabetic at all .

 

[EllieM]

I am guessing that it is the insulin dose. But, the insulin dose may cause hypoglycemia. My meter numbers do not show low numbers though on average (nothing lower than 5ish). Nonetheless, if the insulin is higher, AND the number is lower, anxiety and tremor increase. I seem more comfortable at 10, with an insulin unit at 10-12, and no glyclazide with Metformin. This is new. I am beginning to wonder if I am diabetic at all .

Could it be that you got used to having your bgs at 10 and are now feeling discomfort as your body gets used to the lower levels? A bit like a false hypo?
(Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor, this is not a diagnosis).

 

[Erin]

Could it be that you got used to having your bgs at 10 and are now feeling discomfort as your body gets used to the lower levels? A bit like a false hypo?
(Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor, this is not a diagnosis).

I don't know Ellie. It could be other factors; it may be a mistake to associate one incidental cause (new med) with another, e.g. withdrawal from something like a different type of diabetes via lithium insipidus?. I was wondering if anyone has had a similar experience to compare. But thank you for reading and your reply.

 

[Fenn]

Hi, I don’t have tremors or normally suffer from anxiety (I’m not really sure what anxiety means) but I do however fear hypos. I tend to intentionally stay around 8-10 recently, I’m on a new VLC diet, before recently My bg tended to bounce all over the place but I tried so hard not to hypo, I ran high all the time, I have zero effects from high bg, without testing I wouldn’t know if I was at 6 or 26 so can happily live at 10, I do have the constant nagging in my head that I am probly going to regret it one day.

 

[Erin]

Hi, I don’t have tremors or normally suffer from anxiety (I’m not really sure what anxiety means) but I do however fear hypos. I tend to intentionally stay around 8-10 recently, I’m on a new VLC diet, before recently My bg tended to bounce all over the place but I tried so hard not to hypo, I ran high all the time, I have zero effects from high bg, without testing I wouldn’t know if I was at 6 or 26 so can happily live at 10, I do have the constant nagging in my head that I am probly going to regret it one day.

I am in a similar situation. Thanks for the feedback. What is a VLC diet? I am mostly vegetarian now except for fish.

 

[NicoleC1971]

For me it isn't so much the level of the bg that can make me feel hypo ish but the steepness of the drop. That's when I get a slight feeling of panic then check and see the vertical down drop on my cgm.

 

[Erin]

For me it isn't so much the level of the bg that can make me feel hypo ish but the steepness of the drop. That's when I get a slight feeling of panic then check and see the vertical down drop on my cgm.

I, too have had trouble keeping a smooth balance of the bg. It can go up and down as if my metabolism has changed. That too is recent.

 

[Fenn]

I am in a similar situation. Thanks for the feedback. What is a VLC diet? I am mostly vegetarian now except for fish.

Very Low Carb (sorry)

 

[Erin]

Very Low Carb (sorry)

I've always doubted the benefit of that; my Oxford Doctor's Guide to Diabetes, recommends low carb, but not VERY low carb.

 

[Fenn]

I've always doubted the benefit of that; my Oxford Doctor's Guide to Diabetes, recommends low carb, but not VERY low carb.

First time I went VLC I found it great but long term couldn’t stick to it, I have been low carb (ish) for years, I started this again out of frustration of bad numbers, almost three weeks in, I have not struggled at all, no cheats, no need to cheat, bloods are so good I keep checking with finger pricks because they are too good to be true. The numbers are keeping me motivated (for now) I have appointment with endo in September and I have a weird need to keep medical people happy, you would think good health would be more motivational but it seems not, after September I may be back on the bread but I hope not.

 

[Fenn]

From this

to this

What don’t speak don’t lie *shrug*

 

[Lamont D]

For me it isn't so much the level of the bg that can make me feel hypo ish but the steepness of the drop. That's when I get a slight feeling of panic then check and see the vertical down drop on my cgm.

I agree with you!
in my experience, it is the rollercoaster ride of spikes and hypos, which happens quickly that leads to the symptoms that @Erin describes.
I suffer from anxiety and in counselling and I am aware that if I don't have complete control of stability in my blood glucose levels, the symptoms of anxiety increase.
Also, it is a recognised symptom in diagnosis(one of many) of Hypoglycaemic conditions.
Very low carb means that depending on how reducing your carb intake a bit more can help so much.
It does allow for some carbs that can keep your blood glucose levels above going keto, which I'm sure some doctors would prefer you to be. It doesn'tt mean going keto.

best wishes

 

[Needing help!]

I also suffer from high anxiety without hypo’s on a finger stick test and have more put it down to hyperinsulinemia due to insulin resistance or a surge of insulin if I eat too many carbs.
High levels of insulin have been shown to link with anxiety, so it may be the dose of insulin and sudden surge in your body that is triggering the anxiety rather than the hypos.
(But of course I’m not a doctor - this is just what I’ve put my high anxiety down to as I never experience hypos)